Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

³² Remember the first days when you had the light of God's truth. In those days you were strong, even though you had to fight against many troubles.

³³ Sometimes it was because people said and did wrong things to you and everybody saw it. And sometimes it was because you stood with others who had wrong things done to them.

³⁴ You shared in the troubles of those who were in prison. When your things were taken from you, you were happy. You knew that you had better things in heaven, things that would always belong to you.

³⁵ So do not stop believing God now. Your faith will bring you much reward.

³⁶ You must not give up believing. Then you will do what God wants you to do. Then you will get what he promised you.

³⁷ The holy writings say `In a little while, the one who is to come will come. He will not wait any longer.

³⁸ If a person does what is right because he believes in God, he will live. If he turns back, I will not be pleased with him.'

³⁹ We are not the people who turn back and so are lost. But we are people who believe, and so we are saved.