“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the Island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
– Revelation 1:9
Oh, and there’s so much we could talk about in Revelation 1:9. I mean, John is speaking from an island where he’s been exiled because of his testimony to Jesus, because of his faithfulness to the word of God. He’s writing to brothers and sisters in different churches who are facing all kinds of temptations and trials, temptations to shrink back from following Christ, trials and persecution and opposition as a result of following Christ.
The Christian life is one of patient endurance. Moment by moment and day by day, may we trust in Jesus even amid trials and tribulations.
We Must Trust In God And In Patient Endurances
One phrase though, I want to hone in on, in the middle of all that, when he says, I, John, your brother. Even that, just like a family relationship with the body of Christ, partner in the tribulation, in the kingdom. We’re together in temptations and trials and in this kingdom. And then he says, the patient endurance that are in Jesus. We are partners in patient endurance. And I just love that phrase because it’s a clear reminder of, well, what the Christian life is. It’s a life of patient endurance. You just think about it. And what John was experiencing was a call to patient endurance. What these believers in the first century were experiencing, surrounded by all these temptations and trials, he was saying, God has called us to partner together in patient endurance and trusting him, moment after moment, day after day.
And so even as I think about those who are listening to this right now, specifically brothers and sisters in Christ, I would just say based on this text, that you and I are partners in the patient endurance that are in Jesus. You are, I am. We’re facing temptations of all kinds, trials of all kinds, and God has called us to partner together in inpatient endurance. Like to trust in him moment by moment, day by day, and to endure with him. To endure. Amidst all the temptations, to stand firm. Amidst all the trials, to keep faith, to keep pressing on toward Christ, to live the life he has called us to live with patient endurance. And so I just want to pray for you and for me accordingly. According to this phrase in Revelation 1:9.
This Verse Prays For Patient Endurance In Our Brothers And Sisters
God, I just join right now with other brothers and sisters, us before you as our father, and I pray for patient endurance for us. God, I pray for this for my brothers and sisters who are listening to this right now. I don’t know all that they’re going through. But God, I pray for patient endurance in their hearts and lives, in their families, in their churches. I’m sure some of them are going through some really challenging times. And so, God, I pray that you would give them patience to endure, you’d help them to resist the temptations around them, that you would strengthen their faith in the middle of trial and suffering, and heartache. God, please give them patient endurance. Enable them to stand firm, to follow you, to trust you, to walk with you through the middle of trials and temptations.
Revelation 1:9 Wants Us To Partner Together In Patient Endurance
Even as I pray this for myself, and yes, as they pray this for me, God, we pray that you would help us to partner together in patient endurance, knowing, knowing that you are good, and you are powerful, and you are wise, and you are gracious, and you will work all these things together for the good of those who love you and have been called according to your purpose.
And that you will bring our patient endurance to completion one day, and we will see your face, and you will wipe every tear from our eyes. We will rejoice with you in an eternity free from sin and free from sorrow and free from suffering. We long for that day. Come Lord Jesus. Come quickly. Bring about that day and grant us, we pray, patient endurance until that day. May it be so, we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
