Dale Cresap's blog

Do you admire those who have a passion in life and follow it? They seem to know their own destiny and live life to the fullest extent. Yet it is still possible to gain the whole world and lose your own soul. I admire those who are passionate for me. They also have an abundant life; one that leads to eternal life. Are you prepared to sacrifice everything for me? You have my promise that those who give up family and houses and lands for my sake and for the gospel shall have a hundredfold of these same things in this life, and in the world to come eternal life. The promise also includes trials and persecutions, but these do not interfere with your abundant life of passion.

You know your personal acquaintances directly and you know famous people by reputation. They don’t know you, and since you know them by hearsay and second-hand accounts it would be more accurate to say that you know about them. I came that you might have life, and this is life eternal, that you may know me. It is not enough that you know about me, for this is not intimate enough to be a saving knowledge. Let not your heart be troubled, for I have made myself available to you that the way is open for you to know me directly. Unlike the famous people that you only know about, I know you as well, and invite you to abide in me.

My word lists special offices of ministry as the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. It implies that these are held by different people. Yet most modern churches are led by an individual who is expected to perform at least three of these duties and perhaps all five. This is a burden that I did not assign and an unrealistic expectation for any person. It is not healthy for either the person attempting it or those under his leadership. Even those who I have called and assigned to be leaders in my body are also members who should fit in and interact with every other member. Every member supplies something, and they provide leadership under my authority.

My word teaches you to love me with all your heart, as well as your mind, soul, and strength. Do you think that all of your consciousness and awareness occurs only in your brain? Have you ever heard of a gut feeling? Surely you have experienced this as a first reaction to an unfamiliar situation, a visceral wave that passes through your belly before your brain has the chance to consider all the data and reason though to a conclusion? You are fearfully and wonderfully made as a body with many members, and each serves a vital purpose. I want you to understand that your body is more than a vehicle for moving your brain around. 

Do you find that your culture measures human value according to intelligence? This is contrary to the Biblical principle of honoring the sanctity of human life because it is made in my image. I am not impressed with any man’s intelligence because it is a gift from me. It is also an expression of my diversity and creativity. To attempt to reduce it to a single numerical measure or even several cannot capture its breadth and complexity. To measure human worth by such simplistic gauges is unrighteous judgment. Those who are truly wise will recognize and value every gift that I give, in others and in themselves. 

Do you ever feel stuck in a rut, constrained by choices you made previously that commit you to a current life that you do not enjoy? Have you made bad choices that prevent you from living with a sense of destiny and fulfillment? Don’t underestimate your ongoing capacity for renewal. When I said I made all things new, it was not a one-time event. From any circumstance and situation you currently face turn to me and I will show you a path to your destiny. This is a universal principle whether you sense that you are currently in my will or not. This is a description of walking with me and abiding in me. 

Have you ever been in a group of people with some of them talking about a subject only they were familiar with? Did you feel excluded? This is considered bad manners in polite company. It is more gracious to find topics of conversation that are inclusive. Do you talk about the Kingdom of God? This is a topic that applies to all whether they have an expressed interest in or knowledge of it or not. Then they that feared me spoke often to one another and a book of remembrance was written before me of those who thought upon my name. Fulfill my Great Commission by including others in this conversation. 

Computers have made possible a virtual world. Games and other scenarios can be presented in a way that looks realistic, but for which there is no corresponding reality. As a Christian you believe in a spiritual world. This is a world that is not visible, but for which there is a corresponding reality. It is important that you not confuse these concepts. Being engrossed in a virtual world is an escape from the real world, but it is false. Yet it is not enough to live in the “real” world without regard for the reality of the spiritual world. He who is spiritual judges all things, and understands the present world and the world to come. 

Do you live with regrets? Is there a sense of sorrow in your life for choices made and not made, for broken relationships and years lost? Do you understand that I came to redeem you from sin and give you salvation? This is the beginning of eternal life, but it is not the only aspect of my redemptive work. I came to make all things new. Do your losses seem permanent and unrecoverable? Turn to me rather than living in regret and see how my redemptive work can be applied to your situation. What you think of as impossible is what I think of as a miracle. Job was ruined in every aspect and I restored him more than he had before and I will do the same for you. Look to me even to redeem the years that were lost.

Do you care about correct doctrine? You do and you should. Do you care about fulfilling the great commission? The Bible is as clear about this as about anything, and you are to do and to teach my commandments, but the people to whom you present the gospel message don’t care about doctrine. They are in darkness. That is why it is so easy for cults to recruit members. They are not prepared to hear your message of truth until they see your message of love. Ask any believer you know what drew them to me. How many were on a quest for correct doctrine? How many were hungry for some expression of love and acceptance, mercy and grace?