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Yea\u00a0doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ \u2013 Philippians 3:8<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n “It’s worth the stretch,” I mumbled to myself after another setback. My words mimicked what was expressed in the 1995 movie Heat<\/em> by Robert De Niro’s character Neil McCauley during a meeting with his cohort about an upcoming heist. Although presented with the possibility of failure, Neil was nevertheless willing to play against the odds. I likewise assessed the project for my grandson’s birthday as worth the frustration because the reward would far exceed the time and effort it required.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll never pay the cost unless you see the value<\/em>. This was an excerpt from the notes during my pastor\u2019s sermon about aligning your heart with God\u2019s kingdom. He referenced Matthew 6:21 and that the heart reveals what’s important.\u00a0 Used as an example was Jesus’ encounter with the man who desired to know: \u201cWhat good thing must I do to get eternal life\u201d (Matthew 19:16), yet was unwilling to pay the cost, \u201csell that thou hast, and give to the poor\u201d (verse 21). The man\u2019s choice exposed what he valued most: his wealth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Some things in life are worth the sacrifice to acquire what’s desired when it’s for the right cause. This includes a strong relationship with God, which doesn\u2019t happen without disciplined time and effort and the willingness to be stretched.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yea\u00a0doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ \u2013 Philippians 3:8\u00a0 “It’s worth the stretch,” I mumbled to myself after another setback. My … <\/p>\n