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The First Letter of Peter 4

4 Therefore, because the Messiah physically suffered, prepare yourselves to suffer as Christians by thinking about suffering the way that Jesus thought about suffering. Do this because those who physically suffer are no longer involved in sin 2 in order that they would not do the things that sinful people want to do during the rest of their lives. Instead, they live to do the things that God wants them to do. 3 I say that to you because you have already used too much of your lifetime doing what the people who do not know God like to do. Like them, you committed sexually immoral and lustful acts, got drunk, participated in immoral parties and drinking parties, and worshiped idols, which God has forbidden. 4 Regarding those things, people who do not know God are surprised that you do not join with them anymore when they do these recklessly immoral things. As a result, they say bad things about you. 5 One day these people will have to admit to God everything that they have done. He is the one who will judge all people. 6 This is the reason why people preached the good news about Jesus to believers who are now dead: in order that those believers who, although people judged them according to human standards during their lifetimes, by means of the Holy Spirit now live forever according to God’s standards. 7 All things on this earth will soon end. So think sensibly and clearly in order to pray well. 8 Most important of all, love each other sincerely, because if you love others, you will forgive them for many sins that they may commit against you. 9 Provide food and a place to sleep for fellow Christians who come to you, and do it cheerfully. 10 Serve your fellow believers with the gifts that God has given you. Manage well the various gifts that God has kindly given you. 11 Those who speak should speak as if they were speaking words that God has spoken. Those who serve others should serve them with the strength that God gives them. Do so in order to glorify God by doing everything that Jesus the Messiah enables you to do. I pray that everyone will see how glorious and powerful he is forever. May it be so! 12 Fellow believers whom I love, do not be surprised by the painful things you are experiencing. Those things are testing you as people test metal by putting it into a fire. Do not think that something unusual is happening to you. 13 Instead, rejoice to the degree that you are suffering the same kinds of things that the Messiah suffered. Rejoice when you suffer, in order that you may also be very glad when the Messiah returns and shows everyone how glorious he is. 14 If other people insult you because you believe in the Messiah, God has blessed you, because your suffering shows that the Spirit of God, the Spirit who reveals how great God is, dwells within you. 15 Make sure that you do not suffer because you murdered anyone or stole anything or did some other kind of evil thing or because you interfered in someone else’s affairs. 16 But do not be ashamed if you suffer because you are a Christian. Instead, praise God that you have the name “Christian.” 17 I say this because it is now time for God to begin judging people, and first he will judge those who belong to him. Since he will judge us believers first, think about what terrible things will finally happen to those who do not obey the good news that comes from him! 18 Solomon also wrote in the Scriptures,

“If righteous people must suffer many difficult trials before going to heaven,

how much more will the ungodly and sinful people surely suffer!”

19 Therefore, those who are suffering because God wants them to suffer should trust God with their lives while continuing to do what is good. God is the one who created them, and he always does what he promises to do.

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