Dale Cresap's blog

You have heard of various things referred to as works of art. This is a complimentary term. Do you think of yourself as a work of art? For you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Even the basic essence of humanity is marvelous but I didn’t stop there. For I am completing the good work I have begun in you. I formed the first man from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. The gestation of human procreation takes more time, and transforming you into my image takes a lifetime. Do not be discouraged at the pace of visible progress. Life is formed in inward secret places over time. Be encouraged that I will complete you as my work of art. 

It is unlikely that you will meet someone with whom you agree about everything, or with whom you will disagree about everything. What is your first impulse when you meet someone for the first time? Do you look for areas in which you disagree that you may set them straight or avoid the influence of their errors? Yet unless your knowledge is already perfect then they may know something you could benefit by learning. If you start by looking for areas of agreement then you will have this opportunity that you would miss if you started looking for disagreement. Cast your net wide and then sort out your catch. 

In the beginning I said that it was not good for man to be alone. I made him a companion, but there is a loneliness that precedes the desire for contact with other people. Your most basic need for relationship begins with me. No amount of human contact will make up for alienation from me. Yet it is possible to experience this and not be aware of it. How many people have you seen who are restless and unsatisfied, going from one new endeavor or indulgence to another, looking for something to give them meaning but not knowing what it is and not finding it? I am what they need, and I have given you the job of helping them find me. 

For those who crucified me I prayed, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. They had no comprehension of the magnitude of what they did, and I realized this, and prayed on their behalf accordingly. You are not currently in a position to have such knowledge, but you can still follow my example when confronted with the sins of others. In most cases the same principle applies. Even those who are intentionally mean to you do not comprehend the magnitude and consequences of their actions. Do you understand the consequences of everything you do, for better or for worse? You are never wrong to pray mercy and forgiveness for others and for yourself.

You live in a world of actions and consequences. Do you find that punishment or even the threat of punishment is the strongest motivation to avoid doing evil? Yet my word says that it is my goodness that leads you to repentance? Do you see me lavishing my goodness on those who choose to be far from me, in order to draw them to me? Does it upset your sense of justice to think that they are getting away with something? Do you see the same dynamic in your own life? I want to be loved more than feared. I want you to understand this spiritual principle because I want you to take part in it, for I have called you to love your enemies. 

You see the actions of other people, but not the thoughts and intentions of their hearts from which these actions flow. This is reason enough not to judge people’s motives. Do you find it difficult to keep your mind from going there? Do you tend to assume the worst? There may be several possible motives for a given action. Intentional evil is the worst, but many things may be explained by ignorance. If you would be gracious then let your assumptions run to the most benign explanations. Don’t attribute to malfeasance that which can be explained by ignorance. It is better still not to attribute motive at all. 

Do you recognize my voice? You have my promise that my sheep will. One attribute of my voice is persistence. Do you seem to have a continuous stream of random thoughts that come and go without much notice? Yet do you also have thoughts that keep coming back, as if you were being intentionally reminded? Perhaps you are. You also have my promise that I will call all things into remembrance. I want you to be patient, and I display this quality myself. If I am serious about getting a point across to you I will repeat it as often as necessary.

Have you encountered people who think that I was a good teacher and a good person, but are not willing to acknowledge my true identity? This may sound like a sympathetic position, but it is not even logically defensible. I must be better or worse than this. For I kept insisting that I was the Son of God. The prophets of old declared the truth of my coming and identity but they made no claim of deity for themselves. If Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel had they had they would have been stoned and their words not included in the Bible. You cannot think of me only as a good teacher. If I wasn’t who I claimed to be I would be the biggest fraud of all time.  

Do you believe in the sun when it is not shining and in me when I am silent? Yet how often am I silent? You know me as the Living Word who was with God in the beginning, who was made flesh and dwelt among you. How shall I be silent? I spoke to my audiences and said he who has ears to hear, let him hear. All heard the same words but how many comprehended them? I spoke of the Kingdom of God and the things of the Spirit. These things are spiritually discerned and flesh and blood does not reveal them but my Father in heaven. Do not be discouraged by this but seek to receive and understand revelation for you have my promise that my sheep know my voice. 

Do you love me? How do you manifest this love? Do you do so by hating those who hate me? You may say that your friend’s enemy is your enemy also, but I love my enemies and I have called you to follow my example. You will encounter those who are in open rebellion against me. They expect you to engage them in open hostility, and are prepared for this. They are not prepared for you to love them and you can catch them off guard. Do you think this is too kind? It is the way that I reached you when you were opposed to me. It is my goodness that will lead them to repent even as it did you.