Dale Cresap's blog

I set the planets in motion around the sun in their proper orbits. Consider the one you care most about. Were the earth closer to the sun it would burn up, and if further away it would freeze. Do you see any spiritual parallel? If you are out of your proper orbit and ‘too close to the sun’ you are subject to ego inflation, on the other hand you get depressed if too far away. Celestial bodies remain in their orbits with no effort. Do you? I have assigned you an orbit of your own, and invited you to abide in me. That is to say that if you remain in the Son, you will be able to remain at the proper distance from the sun.

Do you think that the whole world must be categorized into things that must be affirmed and things that must be condemned? This is too big a job for you. Depending on how you interpret the admonition not to judge, nothing requires condemnation, but even if there are some things you cannot ignore, most things will still not require a response from you. To fail to condemn something does not imply that you affirm it. Do you desire to advance in your spiritual maturity? Do you think that progress in this would be shown by rendering judgment against more and more things or fewer things?

Are your fears in conflict with your needs? You need to grow and be transformed. This will take you into places you have not been before, so there is an element of the unknown in moving forward. If your fears hold you back from doing this you will remain in a stunted condition. Growth takes place gradually, so it may not be obvious in a momentary observation, but becomes clear over time. In like manner the deadly effects of fear may not be obvious in the moment, but they are real and cumulative just the same. If you understand this set your fears aside and move in faith toward the unknown future I have prepared for you.

Have you asked me for my favor and blessing in your life? Can you see how you have received these things in abundance? Do you think that this gives you an unfair advantage over everyone else? You don’t need to feel guilty about this. I bestow favor and blessing over everyone else too. For I send sun and rain on just and on the unjust alike. I open my hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Take a minute to think about that. So what advantage do you have? Blessed are those who walk in the light, and see and know that the blessings they have are from me, and walk in humility and gratitude for them.  

How confident are you in discerning someone’s educational background by their manner of speech and topics of conversation? Yet you have encountered people with academic credentials who are dull and narrow-minded, and also those without credentials who have put forth the effort to inform themselves and maintain an attitude of engagement and inquisitive curiosity. The learned men of the day marveled at my disciples who proclaimed my Kingdom with eloquent boldness, because they were unlearned men, and they took note that they had been with me. Education is more readily available now than it was then, but my presence is available to all, and will give you transformative insights that no school can offer.

Do you have corrected vision? There are several methods available to accomplish this today, including glasses and contact lenses. These are designed to be comfortable and those who use them wear them all day without much thought. It is only when you take them off that you are aware that your normal vision is not clear. If you wear someone else’s glasses, with the wrong lenses for you, it will make your vision worse instead of better. The lenses you look through will affect the way you see the world, and this is true in the spiritual as well as the physical world. Are you wearing the right spiritual glasses for you? Do they make your vision better or worse?

What is the greatest commandment? Isn’t it to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Is it possible to do all these things at once? Do you find that most people have greater ability in one area than another, such as a greater emphasis on head or heart? Do you expect to find intellectual rigor and intense warmth in the same person? Yet this commandment implies that it is possible. Do you see yourself as stronger in one of these areas than the other? They are all valuable, and can work together in balance in my transformative work in your life. Be open to my leading you in this direction.

As you move on in your spiritual development, do you become more accepting of those at lower levels, or less? Do you prefer to associate with those at the same level of development as yourself? This is understandable human nature, but your progress should not become a reason for division between you and your brother. ‘Holier than thou’ is understood as an expression of spiritual arrogance by believer an unbeliever alike. Let your spiritual advancement be seen in your humility. Your progress gives you a greater rather than lesser burden of grace toward your younger brothers.

Do you find it hard to forgive those who sin in different ways than you do? The theological view of sin is that any of any type is too much, but do you see so much going on around you that you pick and choose and create a hierarchy? Some people are bound in habits and addictions that hold no appeal for others. Count yourself fortunate if you are one of the latter, but do you have other issues of your own? Consider the prayer that I used as a bad example, of the man who prayed thus with himself, that he was not a sinner like other men. Look at those who sin in different ways than you do and think of things you have in common.