Keys to Endurance

One of the most clearly-revealed truths in the entire New Testament is that the Christian's life will be marked by affliction. For the true follower of Jesus who is living in a world that hated Jesus, suffering, and tribulation, and persecution, and conflict are inevitable. Scripture makes that conclusion unmistakable. Jesus said it plainly in John 16:33. He said, "In this world, you have tribulation." And a chapter earlier He explained why. In John chapter 15, verses 18 to 20, Jesus said: "If the world hates you [and the Greek construction there implies, "and it will"], you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."...