…And when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Some rejoice when honored for Jesus’ sake; but to rejoice when dishonored and put to shame for Jesus’ sake, shows a love for him that is real. To be “persecuted for righteousness sake” is not right and is not fair, but Christian experience shows that it is accompanied with great joy when done for Jesus’ sake. This is true because the one who knows our future has promised to be with us, and he alone is our true source of joy.
1 minute x 365 days = 1 year of working your way through Bible passages from most NT chapters in chronological order and some from the OT.