By David Ettinger

Destined to Suffer
In John 14:1, Jesus tells His disciples, and, in essence, His beloved Church of all ages: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” Jesus says this for good reason: He knows that from that time forth, until His return at the end of the age, Christians will be persecuted people destined for suffering. A few examples:

• “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17).
• “For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5).
• “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him”…