Dale Cresap's blog

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.

Has anyone ever told you to keep your head in the game? You may have heard this statement even if it was not directed at you. My word tells you not to worry about tomorrow, for sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Can you see the similarities? Does the Biblical reference seem to be stated negatively? Yet the underlying principle is positive. You can trust me to take care of tomorrow and not to suffer you to experience more than you can endure today. For sufficient unto the day is the grace and mercy that you receive when you need it. Tomorrow’s manna will be enough also. Rejoice and live in the peace of knowing my sufficiency for every moment. 

Do you love your enemies as well as your friends? I teach you to love them both, but you love your friends more than your enemies. I love everyone and promise to meet the basic needs even of those who are far from me or even oppose me. If I will do this for them, how much more will I do for you? I held nothing back in my ultimate sacrifice, how shall I not also freely give you all things? I provide for my enemies but love my friends without limit. Do you look at your own life and see areas of lack and need? These things serve a purpose that may not be apparent to you now, but I cause all things to work together for good for those who love me, for I love them. 

Have you ever felt the need to add emphasis to the validity of what you say? Courts require witnesses to swear an oath, but does this guarantee that they will tell the truth? In my word I tell you not to swear an oath, but merely answer yes or no, for whatever is added to that is evil. You can state the truth plainly and the truth will speak for itself. It doesn’t come in degrees and it has no need of affirmations or protestations. Whether it is accepted as valid or not depends on the reputation of the speaker. If your life is an expression of integrity and truth then people will accept what you say.

Have you heard of the sanctity of life? This is a common expression within the pro-life movement to declare that every person is made in my image and has intrinsic worth on that basis. In like manner references to the sanctity of marriage mean that that I instituted marriage and that properly understood it has a meaning that transcends a mere temporal arrangement of convenience. Do you know that there is also a sanctity of fatherhood? For it is as a father than I choose to reveal myself. This office is sanctified since I draw the parallel that gives a connection to the eternal. I want you to ponder the sanctity of fatherhood.