Dale Cresap's blog

Do you live a life of gratitude? You know that this is the right thing for you, but is it your daily experience? You can work to earn money and you can study to gain knowledge. You can practice skills to improve your skills. What can you do to increase the expression of gratitude in your life? Do you understand that gratitude and expectations work in opposition to each other? You expect the world to work a certain way, and that people will treat you in the same manner that you treat them. Have you already experienced disappointment because of this?

Do you have an attitude of gratitude? This rhythmic phrase has become a popular proverb, but it has underlying substance. This is a good place to start, but not a good place to end. What concrete actions do you take to express your gratitude? What about the people in your life that you love; that you are closest to? Are you aware of how much your own life is enriched by contact with them? Do they know how grateful you are for them? How can they know if you don’t tell them? What about all the favorable circumstances and conditions in your life for which there is no person to thank?

Are you familiar with the Great Commission? Do you refer to this work as evangelism? It tells you to go into all the world preaching the good news of the gospel to every creature. Evangelism is normally associated with making converts, but the Great Commission goes on to tell you to make disciples. Do you see these as being the same thing, or is making disciples a more demanding task than making converts? You have programs to follow with a systematic approach to presenting the gospel message. How do you go beyond that to encourage people to do their inner work to become disciples?

Do you practice virtue signaling? If you say the right things you can give the impression of righteousness. This was a common practice in my time and I spoke out against it. I said that you should give your alms in secret and pray in secret rather than publicly to be seen by others and that your Father in heaven would reward you openly. Note that the emphasis here is on externals. Do you think this practice is less prevalent now than it was in my time? This is an enduring principle, to avoid the conflict between seeking the approval of men and doing things for my sake alone.

Are you familiar with the passage of scripture in which I was led by the Spirit into the wilderness? There I fasted, and was tempted. What else took place there? The text does not record it, but what changes do you notice in me afterward? The main message of my ministry was the Kingdom of God, and it was after I came back from the wilderness that I proclaimed this subject. So the wilderness experience for me was one of commissioning, although that term is not used.

Do you know any workaholics? This derogatory term refers to those who are addicted to work. They don’t just have a strong work ethic, but derive their sense of worth and being from performance. Before you are too critical of them, consider that at least they are accomplishing something. What about those who worry, or are fearful, or angry? I said there was no benefit to worry because you could not add to your stature by doing so or even turn one hair white or black. Yet chronic worry comes at an enormous cost. Do you believe that the troubles of the day are sufficient thereof?

What message from the Bible is the most difficult to implement in the culture in which you live? How about turning the other cheek, and resisting not evil, and going an additional mile when you were only compelled to go one? If you were to approach the Bible from the perspective of your culture rather than the other way around, would you consider this to be cowardice? Have you ever seen anyone do this? Did it appear to be cowardly of them? Do you make a distinction between taking the path of least resistance and being intentional and deliberate in the way you express love?

Are you special? Everyone wants to be special, and in their own way, they are. The problem is that everyone really wants to be more special, so their own uniqueness is not enough. This creates a competition and hierarchy. The underlying problem is one of insecurity. If you don’t know who you are, and don’t know that you are accepted and loved just the way you are, then you will be looking for an identity and trying to make it superior to the identity of others.

Do you live in a culture of capitalism and commerce in which you pay for what get, and get what you pay for? The same principle applies to getting paid and paying others. Are you familiar with the story of the workers in the vineyard, where the owner of the vineyard agreed to terms with those who reported to work early, and other workers joined in the effort throughout the day and even toward the end? Yet the owner paid them all the same, and those who started early complained that it was unfair to them. This economic model does not fit your culture, but I told the story for a reason.

Do you believe in ultimate reality? The Bible teaches that in me you live and move and have your being. It also says that in me all things exist. It is one thing for you to accept this reality as it applies to you. Can you make the leap to apply it to all things and all people? How would you view outsiders to your faith if you did? Do you currently view them as enemies? The Bible also speaks of those who are in darkness. Perhaps instead of being enemies or intrinsically evil they are subject to an ultimate reality of which they have no awareness.