Dale Cresap's blog

What is the first subject of your formal education? Once you learn to read you have the skill to acquire all other knowledge. What is the first subject of discipleship for new believers? For once you pass from darkness to light by entering my kingdom your process of discipleship begins. For most believers this starts with the study of my word, that you may know the truth of foundational doctrines, and hide my word in your heart. I also want you to learn to hear my voice, for this is equally important. This is how you are led by the Spirit. You understand the importance of obeying me. It is only possible to do this if you can hear my voice to obey.

Do you delight in the ongoing revelation I give you, spiritual treasures from outside your familiar traditions and denomination? I want you to receive these with joy. Yet do not look at this as an occasion to reject the truth you have already received. It is as valid as it ever was, and I do not force you into a choice between the two. My word describes a man who had old and new treasure. He was blessed and valued them both. Keep casting your net in new seas. Sort out your catch on the deck right away, keeping that which is good and throwing back that which is not. Keep seeking, asking, and knocking and you will continue to find and lay up treasure in heaven. 

Have you ever believed that you received my clear leading for a course of action, and followed it, only to have it not work out? Did you then assume that you were mistaken in the guidance you received, or that any failure you encountered was my will? The truth is not necessarily either of these. That course of action may have been my will for you for a short time, and I may have accomplished my purpose even if you didn’t think it was successful. I do not give you guidance and then send you off on your own. I go with you and I want you to walk in the constant awareness of my presence with you, giving you guidance every step of the way. 

Does it seem to you that people say more and more about less and less? The ability to transmit and receive information has grown exponentially, so that you have access to a steady stream of talk. Could there ever be a good reason to turn it off? Do you find truth and value in everything you hear? Does this endless stream enhance or diminish your ability to hear from me? I sought out solitary places to pray because my Father speaks in a still small voice. If this was true of me in my time how much more is it true of you in yours? Is it hard to find a quiet place to meet with me? Make this choice of your desire to turn off the sources of noise and find a place of contemplation and I will provide it and speak to you there. 

Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man open I will come in and sup with him. Have you heard this passage used as an evangelical tool, to provide some imagery in encouraging people to be reconciled to me through salvation? Use whatever illustrations are helpful in gospel work, but know that this passage was written to people who were already saved. How then was I still standing at the door and knocking? Even after you are saved you still need to make a daily decision to abide in me, to make your life an experience of ongoing communion with me. Listen for my knocking and open the door for an abundant life in me. 

I promised that you would find what you seek, so be careful what you seek. Do you seek the truth? Yet how many people do you know whose first response to everything they encounter is to contradict, criticize, or oppose it? Their argument that this type of scrutiny is necessary to establish the truth is invalid. If they seem to be looking for faults, is it surprising that they find them? In so doing they fulfill my promise in a negative sense, and become anti-seekers. It would be better that they gave up the search. Be sure to keep your own search positive, for whatsoever things are true and lovely. 

Do you ever feel like you run out of day before you run out of things to do, or accomplish all that you intended? Does one day seem to carry over into the next with a cumulative deficit of accomplishment? It is possible that you have picked up a heavier burden than I have given you, for I promised that my yoke was easy and my burden was light. I taught you not to worry about tomorrow, for sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Yet you do not have to consider this teaching only in a negative sense, for the day is also sufficient for the good things I have given you to do. Before I left your world I declared that I had finished all My Father gave me to do. If you follow me you will be able to say the same thing. 

Your reflection in a mirror is an accurate image of your appearance. Do you like what you see? You live in a culture obsessed with an ideal image that is attainable only by a few, so many people do not like the image in the mirror. Do you know that you also have a spiritual reflection? For now you see in a glass darkly, but then face to face. For your spiritual reflection you do not have to match a cultural template, but you should aim to please me, for it is in my light that you see who you really are. This is not as difficult as you may suppose. You are my child and I look on you with grace and favor. Don’t be afraid to look at your reflection in me. 

Do you desire certainty in the things you know? My word tells you to be teachable, to be a seeker of the truth. Do you see that these goals are in conflict? Your search should not lead you to contradict the non-negotiable foundation of your faith, but it should make you open to receive the truth I have already imparted to others and embrace it. You should put more effort into seeking truth than into defending what you already know. Seek me to defend the truth. Seek me to guide you into all truth, and be prepared to follow where I lead you. 

How firmly do you hold your denominational affiliation? The ancient proverb is to love your friends and hate your enemies, but I taught my followers to love their enemies. You may think of those in your own church as your friends. Hopefully you do not think of those in other denominations as enemies, but if you can love your enemies you should be able to love your brothers. For I have only one body and I love it when brethren dwell together in unity. I gave this as the criteria by which all men would know that you are my disciples by the way you love one another. This is particularly true when it occurs across denominational lines. Don’t let your denominational affiliation prevent it.