Romans 8:18-25

Romans 8:18-25
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Take the long view.
  So often in life, we are tempted to focus on the short-term.  We can exchange our long-term hard work for short-term pleasure.  We give up on long-term focused diets for short-term indulgences.  We sacrifice long-term integrity for short-term satisfaction.
  For the early church, the strong temptation was to give up on faithfulness to Christ that might cost them their life.  But this was choosing short-term ease over long-term flourishing that we receive in the Kingdom of God.  In the short-term, life may be harder by choosing Christ.  In the long-term, the rewards infinitely outweigh the costs.
  So let us focus on the long-term and shoulder the cost of discipleship, grateful for a God who promises rewards that far outweigh the costs.