Dale Cresap's blog

Do you understand the need for patience? If you need to have a crucial conversation with someone, it may be a matter of great importance to you, but if the timing isn’t right, your words will have no effect. If the other person is tired or angry or distracted it doesn’t matter how much it means to you to hold the conversation, for they are not in a receptive frame of mind. The more important it is to you, the more it matters that they be in a frame of mind to hear your concerns. I know this isn’t easy. I spend a lot of time waiting for you to be receptive to what I want to say to you.

My word tells you to confess your faults to one another. It doesn’t say that you have to confess your faults to everyone. Can you be selective in whom you choose to confide in? You know that some people will use anything you say against you, or they cannot be trusted to hold a confidence, and you have a good guess as to who these people are. You also know loving people who you can trust to be oriented toward redemptive purpose, who will be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

What effects would you expect to see in the life of someone who responds to the gospel message? That they would affirm the truth claims of the Bible? So is the most fervent believer the staunchest defender of these claims? Can this happen apart from a changed life? Would you be more persuaded by someone becoming a better citizen, more loving, more thoughtful and considerate, and generous, not only toward fellow believers, but toward all humanity? Which of these did I place more emphasis on in the Bible? Which do you find more admirable in the people you meet?

Are you familiar with Radar? The term is derived from radio detection and ranging, and is of great benefit to air traffic control and navigation. Most people don’t deal with it directly, but is there a spiritual equivalent that is more widely available? Have you ever been aware of something you couldn’t explain? Did it turn out that you were right or wrong about this? Has this happened consistently enough that you have a level of trust in these impressions enough to act on them? Have you ever been wrong?

What is your response to the evil in the world? Does it fill you with a sense of outrage over injustice? Does this help in bringing about a solution? Does your faith make you more or less sensitive to and aware of the presence of evil, and more or less likely to be outraged? I have promised peace to my followers. Can these things be reconciled? Do you have to choose between them or can you experience both at the same time? Is there a better alternative to rage? What would it be? What response would inspire you to act effectively without stealing your peace from you?

Do you need correction? Who is qualified to give it to you? Do you require those who would correct you to be believers, to have credentials or offices, to have direct authority over you? If you hate correction you will look for any excuse to avoid it, but your pastor doesn’t have enough time to get the job done. Do you know that your enemies can see areas in your life in which you can improve? Do you know that I can use unbelievers to speak truth into your life? You should pay close attention when I speak this way. Do you see the value of correction?

What would you expect to find in a Christian Bookstore? Bibles, of course. What else? Insider information about end-time events? Are you aware of how many times that my return has been predicted incorrectly, or the number of incorrect identifications of end-time Bible characters with living people? Would you expect to find more books that reassure you that you are going in the right direction, or more books that served as invitations to do your difficult inner work? This last category has never been popular, but these books exist if you care to search for them.

Have you ever had a transaction that had hidden costs? Have you ever ended up paying more than the price you understood? Do you think of this question only in monetary terms? This is the most obvious example, but the same concept can apply in other areas with even more damaging results. Do you desire respect? Has the pursuit of this left you distant from other people and cost you intimacy? Has a desire for wealth led you to dissatisfaction? Have you paid for your desire for prestige and power with self-absorption? You are made in the image of what you desire.

Do you draw strong distinctions between yourself and your enemies? Are you glad that you are not like them? How does this affect your prayer life? For I cited the bad example of the man who prayed thus with himself, that he thanked God that he was not like other men, such as the publican and the sinner nearby. Do you find this smug, self-satisfied self-righteousness appalling? Me too. I said that this man was not justified while the repentant sinner was. So what would be a better approach?

Do you like to give and receive gifts? Do you like to give thoughtful gifts that are considerate of the recipient; something they really want? Sometimes desires are communicated through a ‘wish list’. What would you give me? Do you know what is on my wish list? I have already given it to you. I’m looking for a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Do you know people that you would describe that way? How did they get there? Do you know anyone meeting this description who didn’t suffer to get there? Do you want to give me what I want enough to pay the price for it? You can afford it.