If you read the Bible you will find that Paul wrote a great deal of the New Testament, and if you read it carefully you will realize that Paul did not encounter me in person the same way that the twelve did, even though there was that encounter on the road to Damascus. Do you have friends who would have wanted to walk with me while I was on this earth? In Paul I provide an example for you to follow for someone who followed me without having met me in person. Do not lament living when you do. Did Paul have a diminished spiritual experience?

Do you think you are special? You are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made in my image. You are unique and you are loved, and you have a destiny that only you can fulfill. Is this enough? For this is true of every person. Do you want to be more special than others? This causes problems. What good will come of the comparison and climbing for position? This is caused by insecurity. Those who do not know they are loved are grasping for it. Those who know they are don’t need to.

You have your own gifts and other people have theirs. Do you think that yours are the best? Do you discount the value of the gifts and service of others? Do you expect to get a reward for the exercise of your superior gift? How would you like to get yours and the reward of someone else as well? You will be recognized for your faithfulness, but he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. There are enough other positions listed to imply that this principle is universal. Love one another and regard others for their place in my body.

Do you consider yourself to be risk-seeking or risk-averse? Most believers do not intentionally seek out risk, but it will come to you since you can’t avoid making decisions in the absence of certainty about future events. Trying to avoid all risk is the worst risk of all. Consider the parable of the talents. All of the servants who took chances with the Master’s money were commended. The one who was not was the one who hid the talent in the earth, even though he returned it intact. The question of risk-taking can be reframed as acting in faith.