All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution—

 Opposition is to be expected and will, doubtless, continue until we finish our course in death. To submit patiently to this opposition is to sacrifice our own natural preferences for the friendship and the pleasures of the present life, and to endure hardness as good soldiers for the Truth’s sake, in whatever shape that hardness may come, in our effort to do the Lord’s will and work of advancing the interests of His Kingdom. To be really in the Lord’s service involves, first, the careful and continual study of God’s Plan; second, the imbibing of its spirit; leading, thirdly, to an enthusiastic zeal for its accomplishment, and to activity to the extent of ability in its service, at whatever cost or sacrifice it may require.