3. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
4. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.
5. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.
6. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
7. The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
8. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
9. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
10. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
11. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
12. Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
13. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.