Dale Cresap's blog

I told my followers to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to do all I commanded. You refer to this as the Great Commission. Do you think it is the most important task assigned to you as a believer? I tell you it is more important to worship me. For in worship you enter and express the relationship with me that I made the ultimate sacrifice to make possible. When you make disciples of others you invite them to enter this same position with me. Should you consider the invitation of others more important than entering it yourself? You should desire to share this with others because you have found it to be so beneficial. It is your own worship of me that validates your motivation and desire to make disciples of others that they may experience it themselves. 

Do you find reassurance in familiar surroundings and habits? Perhaps these things provide more comfort than they should. The normal life of a believer is not static. I have called you to follow me, and this implies constant movement. This movement may be spiritual rather than physical. Yet you should be more suspicious of the danger of a life that seems unchanging than one in a constant state of flux. Do not be dismayed that you are called to a sojourn, for those on a journey have a goal and destination and can make progress toward it. If you seek my eternal city with foundations in the heavens you will find it, and I will not be ashamed to call you by my name. 

Are you familiar with the phrase ‘walking wounded’? This refers to those who are injured but still upright and functional. My servant Jacob lived before this was a common phrase, but he was a prime example. After his encounter with me he walked with a limp the rest of his life. How many do you know who are in the same condition? What about yourself? Even if you walk normally you may have in a larger sense some weakness that you have to deal with as a constant reminder of your frailty. If you examine yourself and your fellow believers you will see this is quite common. Even Paul had a thorn in his flesh I declined to remove. I told him that my grace was sufficient for him and it is for you too. 

Do you expect to hear from me often? Do you expect hearing from me to be a dramatic or even traumatic experience? I spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend. How do you converse with your friends? Isn’t this casual and easygoing, and nearly constant when you are in contact with them? I want you to have the same type of conversation with me that I had with Moses; that you have with your friends. Have I not called you friends rather than servants because of my willingness to reveal my heart to you? Come to me expecting to hear from me often and gently, and your abiding in me will be an ongoing conversation with me.

Have you ever been on a diet? Have you ever had a lapse from your intentions on a diet? How do you handle this? One school of thought is to surrender and give in since you have already failed. Yet you are better off to keep your goal in mind and recover and more forward. This principle applies universally. Do you stumble in other areas of life? My word says that even though you stumble you should not fall. Even when you see weaknesses and shortcomings in your performance you should not give up. Acknowledge your weakness and your dependence on me and I will keep you from falling even when you stumble. 

I teach you to love your enemies. Do you understand how radical this is? When you put this into practice are you content to avoid or tolerate them? It is not enough to refrain from open hostility, for no one will accept this as a definition of love. It takes discernment to know how to express love for your enemies, for in this situation the usual verbal affirmations would be awkward. Yet in every case love is more powerfully demonstrated in actions than in words. I want you to embrace this radical concept and think of ways you can demonstrate love for your enemies. What you cannot do on your own you can do as you abide in me. 

You know that tithing is a Biblical principle so you give generously to your church. Do you direct your giving only toward those from whom you derive a direct spiritual benefit? There is another spiritual principle that is also taught in my word. Give to those who cannot repay you and you will have treasure in heaven. Some of the greatest needs for resources are among those who are not in a position to repay you. And so you give to missions work as well. If you know the value of generosity you will apply it in every aspect of your life and giving, and I will reward you with treasure here and in heaven. 

I tell you to rejoice. Do you find this easier when things go well for you than when you face difficulties? Yet my commandment applies in both cases. Do not think of your rejoicing as a product of your circumstances. Neither is it a denial of reality. Rejoice as a deliberate action rather than letting your state of mind be a reaction to events surrounding you. This way you maintain liberty and victory within and avoid bitterness. Do you believe that all things work together for good for those who love and obey me? Your rejoicing regardless of your current circumstances is a testimony of your faith and an acknowledgment of my ultimate goodness.

Where is your identity based? You meet people who are strongly attached to the local culture of their city or state, or to some chosen sub-culture. Some are firmly attached to their car or clothing or the school they attended. Do you see this behavior as much in mature believers? Your citizenship is now in heaven and you should relax your grip on these earthly attachments. Doing so will broaden your vision and give you a truer perspective on all things. You will make yourself more useful to me if you are able to move beyond your tribal identity, and your life will be a testimony to others that though you walk in this world your true home is in heaven and theirs can be too.

When computers became widely available they were a solution in search of a problem. How many people needed that much computational ability in their home? Yet home computers have become useful less as computational devices and more as communications devices. A network connection gives you access to a virtually unlimited world of information. Do you see your own mind the same way? I have given you the ability to reason. Yet the information you are able to obtain on your own is paltry in comparison to my infinite understanding. I am eager to share this with you if you seek it, so your finite mind has a network connection. Think of it more as a communications device than a computer.