Dale Cresap's blog

Do you think of yourself as courageous? Perhaps you think of courage as something only for soldiers in combat or those who must face hazards and threats to carry out some noble mission. Do you think that courage cannot apply to you if you don’t fit into one of these categories? I tell you that every person faces the pressure and temptation to present themselves as something other than what they really are. Have you ever tried to appear better than you really are to gain the acceptance and approval of those around you? How well did this work? Every person has the opportunity to live courageously in openly being the person I created them to be. 

My word gives the account of many battles in the Old Testament, and there are martial metaphors in the New Testament. You also have enemies. Who are they? Do you think of people who are not saved are your enemies? Yet you are called to carry out the Great Commission, so you should not think of potential converts as enemies. This is true even of those who oppose you, even as I prayed to my Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. So those who reject you are in darkness, even as you once were. You may think of those who have not received the light of truth as captives of your real enemy. Blessed are those who rescue them. 

Do you sense a different spiritual climate in different places, and notice that some places are full of oppression? You are surrounded by an unseen spiritual realm and you are correct to realize that every area has a spiritual climate as well as a meteorological one. Yet you are not called to run and hide from your adversary. Prudence and discretion are important so neither should you charge headlong at him without direction from me, yet there is another reality you should also be aware of. You bear my presence within you so you influence the spiritual climate wherever you go, so let your light so shine before men that they may glorify me. 

Have you experienced the pain of rejection? You may think you will gain acceptance if you are good and rejection if you are not, but you can suffer rejection for righteousness. This is harder to understand, and both experiences are painful, but isn’t it better to suffer for doing well than for doing evil? In this case you have my comfort and consolation. In either case you are not free to reject those who reject you. They may not be on the same path you are, or not as far along. It took you a long time to get where you are. Perhaps you rejected others who were further than you when you first started. Give grace to others where they are as you would have them do to you. 

Have you ever heard the gospel message presented in such a way that drove away potential converts? This is not the right way to carry out the Great Commission. Yet my first followers prayed for great boldness in presenting my message. Have you seen arrogance pass for boldness in evangelism? Yet the most effective tool you have in reaching the lost is the winsome quality of Christlikeness. After all, it is your task to draw people to me. Is there a way that you can be both bold and have a humble spirit and a contrite heart? Yes. It may not be obvious how to meet both criteria at once but there is a way. He who is wise wins souls. Ask me for this wisdom.

Do you suffer rejection from others? You are not free to reject them in return. For I said that even sinners love those who love them, but you are called to a higher standard, to love your enemies, to pray for those who mistreat you. Others may be offended at you, but I don’t want you to be offended at them. The love that you are called to display begins with acceptance. You can do this for sinners without approving of their sin or compromising your own righteous conduct. Have you noticed that those who practice a deep walk with me become less judgmental rather than more so? Blessed is he who is not offended with me. 

Do you love me? Do you love to do my will and obey my commandments? What believer would say no to the first question? Yet would you expect less enthusiastic responses to the second question? Many people, even among those who affirm the faith, have a vague notion of love as a positive feeling. Yet it would be wrong to draw a distinction between the first two questions given above, for one implies the other. My will is inherent in my being and inseparable from it. So my word tells you that by this you know that you love me, when you keep my commandments. He who loves me will also love those I love, including his brother.

If you seek me with all your heart do you expect others to approve? Does it bother you to be misunderstood? Do you find it comforting in difficult times to be surrounded by those who understand and sympathize? Do you expect that those far from you and with different experiences will not understand you but expect that your family and fellow believers will? Yet my own family and my community did not understand me, and in some cases my own disciples didn’t either. If a servant is not greater than his master then this same experience should come as no surprise to you. Yet you have my comfort for your obedience and my approval is better than any other can offer. 

Have I not promised that you shall have anything you ask me for? Yet I did not promise to give it to you immediately. Are you accustomed to having anything you want without delay? Do you lose interest in things you have to wait for? This is impatience and it is a problem in your modern culture of immediacy. Some things of real value you can have immediately, but in most cases the greater things take the longest times to obtain. This applies not just to material things, but to desirable items like education and experience, and even to spiritual things, and so patience is a fruit of the Spirit. The wait is part of the value of what you want, and the process of waiting transforms you into my likeness. 

Have you been through a church split? Most believers are familiar with these even if they haven’t experienced one themselves. Would you guess that all of these were unavoidable due to differences in non-negotiable core beliefs? Have you ever been through a church merger? You are correct in thinking these are rare. Yet in the fullness of my Kingdom there will be no denominational distinctions, for all believers will merge together, and there will be one head with one body, one God and one people. Until then do all that is in your power to accept and affirm what I am doing in others. Be as inclusive as you can.