Prepare yourselves to suffer as Jesus did. Such suffering signifies your deliverance from the flesh and sin, as you do not submit to the will of men, but do the will of God. When you no longer do what you used to, they consider you strange and ridicule you, but will surely give account to God the Judge.
The End is at hand, so be sober and prayerful. Above all, be gracious and loving, for this covers a multitude of sins. As you have been gifted, so walk and glorify God in this. Speak as His oracle, minister by His power.
Don’t consider persecution strange, but count yourselves privileged to share in the suffering of Christ, and you will yet share in His joy. But don’t suffer for wrong doing, for judgment must begin at the House of God. So if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what hope is there for the ungodly? But if you suffer for Christ, submit your souls to Him in endurance.
