Be ready for troubles and suffering
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📚✭Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the body, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he who has suffered in the body has ceased from sin, 2 📚so that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the body for the desires of men, but for the will of God. 3 📚✭For the time of life already past is enough for us to have performed the will of the Gentiles, going about in lustfulness, evil desires, excessive drinking, carousing, drunken parties, and abominable idolatries✭. 4 📚✭Now they think it strange that you do not rush with them into the same excessive reveling, and speak evil of you. God’s judgment will come
5 📚But they will give an account✭ to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 📚✭Because for this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, so that they might be judged according to men in the body, but live according to God in the spirit.
Living as though the end of this age were near
7 📚But the end of all things is at hand✭. Therefore be sober minded✭, and watch so you can pray. 8 📚And above all things have fervent love among yourselves, for love✭ covers✭ a multitude of sins. 9 📚✭Be hospitable to one another without grudging. 10 📚As each one has received a ministry gift✭, use it to serve one another✭, as good stewards✭ of the manifold grace of God. 11 📚If anyone speaks✭, let him do so like one speaking the utterances of God. If anyone ministers, let it be done with the ability that God gives✭, so that in everything God may be glorified✭ through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for Christ
12 📚Dear ones, do not be surprised✭ at your fiery✭ trial which is for your testing, as though some strange thing happened to you, 13 📚but rejoice✭ because you are sharers of Christ’s sufferings, so that when his glory is revealed✭, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 📚If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed✭ are you, for the Spirit of glory✭ and of God rests on you. He is slandered by them, but glorified by you. 15 📚✭But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters. 16 📚Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed✭, but let him glorify God that this is his lot. 17 📚For the time has come that judgment✭ must begin at the house✭ of God. And if it first begins at us, what will be the end of those who do not obey✭ the gospel of God? 18 📚And if the righteous scarcely be saved✭, where will the ungodly✭ and the sinner appear?
19 📚Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit✭ the keeping of their souls to him in well doing✭, as to a faithful Creator.