Remember how you accepted persecution because of your faith in Christ, and do not be discouraged if you are persecuted now.

Hebrews 10:32-39

32 Recall previous times when you first understood [MET] the message about Christ. You endured a hard struggle, but you continued to trust him when you suffered because you believed in Christ. 33 At times you were publicly insulted {people publicly insulted you} and you suffered {people persecuted you}. But you showed great concern for those who were treated like that. 34 You not only were kind to those who were in prison because they believed in Christ, but you also accepted it joyfully when unbelievers took away your possessions. You accepted it because you yourselves knew very well that you have eternal possessions in heaven that are much better than those that they took from you! 35 So, do not become discouraged when they cause you to suffer {you are persecuted}, because if you continue to trust in God, he will greatly reward you. 36 You must patiently continue to trust in him in order that, because of your doing what God wants you to do, he will give you what he has promised. 37 You must do that since a prophet wrote in the Scriptures that God said about the Messiah,

In just a short time the one I promised would come will surely come;

he will not delay coming.

38 But those whom I have summoned, who act righteously, must continually live trusting in me,

because if they, in a cowardly manner, cease to trust in me, I

◄will not be pleased/will be angry► with them.

39 But we are not ones who in a cowardly manner stop trusting in God, with the result that God will severely punish us. Instead, we are ones who trust in him, with the result that God will save us [SYN] eternally.