Stand firm in the last times

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised about the fiery trials that have come among you to test you. These are not strange happenings. ¹³ Instead, rejoice as you share Christ’s suffering. You share his suffering now so that you may also have overwhelming joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are mocked because of Christ’s name, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory—indeed, the Spirit of God—rests on you.

¹⁵ Now none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or evildoer or rebel. ¹⁶ But don’t be ashamed if you suffer as one who belongs to Christ. Rather, honor God as you bear Christ’s name. Give honor to God, ¹⁷ because it’s time for judgment to begin with God’s own household. But if judgment starts with us, what will happen to those who refuse to believe God’s good news? ¹⁸ If the righteous are barely rescued, what will happen to the godless and sinful? ¹⁹ So then, those who suffer because they follow God’s will should commit their lives to a trustworthy creator by doing what is right.