Dale Cresap's blog

Do you ever wish that people would leave you alone? They can be annoying and wearisome. Have you ever wished that I would leave you alone? That would be the worst thing that could happen to you. At the final judgment I tell those who did not know me to depart from me. As difficult as it is for you to go through my process of refinement and transformation in your life, it is what you really need. I love you too much to let you wander alone. So I intervene in your life and I don’t always wait for your permission. How would you be able to seek me if I did not call you? Answer my call and come to me.

Do you realize that I care about your morale? There are things in your life that need correction, but I do not willingly grieve or afflict my children. Sometimes I allow things to continue in your life because you could not bear to have them dealt with yet. Do not mistake this for my approval. I tell fathers not to provoke their children to wrath. Can you see that I follow the same advice I give? Haven’t my dealings with you been kind and gentle? Do not be discouraged. I tell you to rejoice and deal with you in such a way that you are able to. Guard your joy that you do not discard it, or let anyone else take it from you either. 

My word tells you to lay up treasure in heaven. Do you understand what this means? You are so surrounded by the material wealth of this world and the pursuit thereof that it may be difficult for you to comprehend true spiritual wealth. Treasure in heaven is not something you own like any other possession. It is something you are. Another promise in my word is that I will change you into my likeness. Do you understand that this is the same thing? This process is long and painful but as I accomplish it I am imparting true wealth to you. Do you value this form of wealth enough to see the process through?

Have you noticed how quick people are to align themselves with a particular ministry? They like to inform you of the names of prominent people they identify with. It is not wrong to commit to a particular church or ministry, but this brings with it the risk of comparison, competition, and division. If I have called you to a particular place that means it is right for you. It doesn’t mean it is right for everyone. I have a plan and purpose for each of my children, and they are answerable to me to walk in it. This issue arose early in the church, when believers would say I am of Paul or I am of Apollos. I answered through Paul to affirm that I alone am the head of my church.

Have you noticed that the New Testament says a lot about Pharisees? They are not mentioned in the Old Testament. How many Pharisees do you think have actually read the New Testament? Wasn’t it written for Christians? Yet they are mentioned so many times. Could it be that these references and warnings were really targeted at you? Have you ever seen the same impulses and traits in your fellow believers? The Bible is my general and universal law. It provides warnings that are common to all. I warned my own followers to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which was hypocrisy. By inference you may assume this warning applies to everyone.

You have heard that cleanliness is next to godliness. This is possibly the most famous Bible verse that isn’t really in the Bible. Yet there is an easily understood parallel. You know that cleanliness must be a regular habit to be effective. It is not a single event, or something that can be attended to sporadically, but good hygiene will not secure your entrance to the Kingdom of God. Godliness is also a matter of habit and consistency. In the terminology of the Kingdom it is called faithfulness. If someone is not diligent about their hygiene it quickly becomes obvious in an unpleasant way. In like manner I notice when you are not diligent about godliness.

I told people to repent lest some worse thing befall them. Do you view this statement in a negative way, that things will continue to get worse unless you change? You could view the same principle in a positive way, that I begin with gentle and mild methods of correction. I do not escalate the methods unless it is necessary to do so. Have you seen this principle in effect in your own life when you face serious consequences for your faults? Are you aware that you could have avoided these if you had dealt with the situation earlier? Respond to my gentle promptings and I will have no need to use stronger measures to correct you. 

My word teaches you how to deal with your enemies. It also teaches you to be a peacemaker. Do you realize that these are the same thing? You don’t make peace by dealing with your friends. If you say that you have no enemies you deceive yourself. Do you think of enemies only as those who are opposed to righteousness, regardless of how they treat you? Yet I told you to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who despitefully use you that you may be the children of your Father in heaven. This is what I did and I want you to follow my example as a child of God. 

True scientists are observers of the natural world. The foundational principles of science are observation and generalization so natural laws such as gravity, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism are accepted because they work rather than being derived from more basic principles. My laws are set forth in my word. You can accept their validity by faith as revealed truth, but do you not also see by observation that they work? Have you ever seen the righteous forsaken? I encourage you to perform your own experiments. Live according to my principles and see what happens. 

Do you affirm the principle of political equality? This states that all men are created equal. In practice you know that this is not mathematical equality, for all people are not the same, but it means that the same rules should apply to all, and no one should get special treatment due to their status or office. Do you understand that there is a Biblical equivalent? In my word I tell you not to seek to be called rabbi or teacher, for you all have one teacher, even Christ. This applies to other offices as well. I need people to hold positions in my church, but I want them to do it as servants, not lording their positions over others, but serving with humility and grace.