Dale Cresap's blog

You take my commandments seriously as you should. Are you content with this? I want you to do and teach all that I commanded you. Who would hide their light under a bushel? A modern version of this would be an opaque lampshade. You have heard it said that what you do when no one is watching reveals your true character. Yet this is rare. Someone is watching more than you are aware and I am always watching. Would you be excused saying that you are not a teacher? You don’t need a structured classroom to teach my commandments. Let your light shine before men. Do not do your good works before them to be seen by them, but that they may glorify me.

You know that you are to forgive. Do you find it easy to do this with a perfunctory statement when asked and quick mental assent when you are not? Yet I want you to forgive from the heart. Have I not also told you to pray for your enemies and do good to those who despitefully use you. How fervent are those prayers? If you are righteous then you may consider those who harm you to be unrighteous. Do you believe in the effectiveness of my redemptive work? Can you see it applied to them? If you forgive from your heart you will pray for my redemption in their lives that they would surpass you in grace and godliness and rejoice to see it happen. What is impossible for you is possible for me.

Do you understand that you sense of worth should be intrinsic? You argue for the sanctity of life of the unborn. The same argument applies to everyone you meet, and to yourself. If you understand that you are accepted in the beloved you do not have to prove your own worth. Have you ever been around people who don’t understand this? They assert their own value as if they have to prove it to you. Yet you wonder if they are trying to prove it to themselves. If your sense of value comes from the one who made you rather than what you do, then you can be at peace, and those around you can too. 

Do you have a highly developed sense of outrage? Does it serve you well? Much of what passes for righteous indignation is not righteous, and in the end, outrage is just rage. You see offenses that are real and egregious, and face the temptation to rise up in response, but the righteousness of God is not accomplished by the wrath of man. I rebuked my own disciples who wanted to call down fire from heaven. I have called you to be a peacemaker, that you may be my child. A soft answer turns away wrath. I want you to experience my peace that surpasses understanding even in the face of provocation that you may be an agent of grace to move in my redemptive purposes.

You engage in conversations every day. How many of them are about spiritual things? How often do you get caught up in wandering conversations that appear to have no purpose or destination? Would you like to direct them to some redemptive purpose? You can always offer a silent prayer to invite me to the conversation and direct it by my Spirit. I promised to give you words on the spot when you are called on to defend your faith and your life. This principle isn’t limited to such extreme situations. If you are in need of words to express redemption you can ask in silence and I will give you words to speak aloud. 

Does the concept of discipline have a negative connotation for you?  How many welcome correction from without? Yet you admire those who display self-control. Do you find discipline to be one of your most difficult challenges? You thrive on novelty and this can make it difficult for you to stay on task. You need structure and focus to put in a consistent effort to achieve. If you have ever been frustrated in performing below your own abilities can you see that you may need outside help to perform at your best? If you understand this you will seek accountability willingly for your own good. 

When I made the world I said that it was good. You know all about the fall that followed, but this did not change the fact that the world I made was good. It still is. Have you not noticed that it is favorable for life? You are aware of extremes of harsh climates, but I still give rain and sun, a season for planting and a season for reaping. I made a world favorable for expansion and replenishment. I gave you a north star to find your way and an abundance of fuel stored safely underground. Open your eyes and you will see my goodness everywhere you look. You do not need to look to random explanations to account for my goodness. My creation testifies of me. Give me glory for what you see.

Does it bother you that I never ask what you are thinking? You like it when your friends inquire of this because it is affirming and validating, but I already know the answer. When you come before me you are welcome to repeat it but this is not necessary. I do invite you to come and let us reason together. The passage in my word is in the context of repentance and forgiveness, but the concept is not limited to that. I want you to come and reason together with me in everything you think and do. I want you to have the continual awareness that you abide in my presence and in communion with me you have access to my thoughts that are higher than your thoughts and have the mind of Christ.

Do you think growth is only positive and beneficial? Anything that is diminishing is not growing, but evil can grow as well as good. Growth can be negative in this sense. Do you allow yourself small indulgences that you consider harmless? Big things grow from small things, for better or for worse. This is the principle of escalation. You see growth in the natural world in the absence of limits or intervention and the same thing occurs within you. Guard your heart, mind, eyes, and ears with regard to what influences you allow. Be intentional, active, and deliberate in directing your focus towards me that you may have positive and beneficial growth in righteousness.

Early in my word I said that it was not good for man to be alone, so I created a companion for him. In so doing I set in motion the means for procreation of more men and women to populate, replenish, and subdue the earth throughout history. This created many opportunities for companionship according to the same principle, but not all are married. Even so it is not good for anyone to be alone. Do you understand that I am your first companion; that I created you in my image for fellowship with me? Let this be the foundation for all your relationships and you will have a multitude of brothers and sisters in this world and the world to come.