You know that your body cannot live without food. Do you know that your soul cannot live without meaning? You know when your body is hungry. Do you know when your soul is hungry? You can live your life doing the same activities that others do, but if you do not have a sense of purpose and meaning then you are just going through the motions and your soul will wither and die. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. It is no accident that the language of appetites is used in this passage. Blessed are those who recognize the hunger in their soul and know how it may be satisfied in me.

Have you heard that he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward? That sounds like a good deal. Do you know any prophets to receive? Can you apply the same principle to your day and age? Can you find something to affirm in every church, even those you do not belong to? What do you normally hear from other believers? That their church is the best in every measure that matters? That is a much greater claim than saying it is a good fit for them now. I gave gifts to every church. If you can acknowledge and receive them, then you are acknowledging my work in them, and will receive the same reward that is due them.

Do you like your freedom? I tell you to stand fast in the liberty in which I have made you free. Are you mature enough in your response to freedom that it gives life rather than leading to dissipation? You are free to use your freedom any way you choose, but you have seen people whose lack of restraint works against them. Don’t let that happen to you. Use the freedom of action that you have to choose for yourself the internal framework and structure that you need to build a life of meaning and purpose and intention. This is standing fast in an expression of liberty that will give you life.

Are you familiar with the cost/benefit ratio? This is used by accountants and other money managers to determine if a purchase is a good deal. To do the math both the costs and benefits must be reduced to monetary measures. But there are cases where one or both cannot be assigned a dollar value. But the principle still applies. Even in the world of business managers know the value of employee morale although it is hard to express in monetary terms. I spoke of a man who started a tower and was unable to finish it, and a man who put his hand to the plow without counting the cost. Do you understand the costs and benefits of following me involve more than money?