Hold fast to Jesus

1 Thessalonians 3:4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

Paul was told up front that he would suffer many things for Christ sake, the gospels sake. He totally bought in! I believe we must be totally honest when presenting the gospel that you will now have a huge target upon you since coming out of darkness. You are now in His kingdom, that of life & light. The strongest christians I know are those who have embraced the suffering and tribulations the world throws. They are strengthened by Spirit and lead through such trials. In fact, the tighter the vise squeezes, the more emboldened they become. We dont like tribulation yet we have come to grips with it, battle hardened if you will. Yet saying all this, we stand firm & victorious in our God! Some preachers will play slight of hand with this subject. Claiming we will go through the Great Tribulation. Not so at all. We face satans anger now, yet we wont be cast into Gods wrath. His wrath has been placed upon Jesus for our sins. We can endure these light afflictions now. What can or will seperate us from the love of God? Nothing!