February 1

Arrows of the Almighty

The Patience Of Jesus Christ

“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 1:9)

The Apostle John was a prisoner as a political offender on Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea about 17 miles off the coast of modern Turkey and the city of Ephesus.  It is there he receives the Revelation of Jesus Christ and identifies himself with the other Christian believers as a brother, “born of the same womb” who is a companion in the Roman persecutions of the citizens of the “kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.”

The patience of Jesus Christ has the meaning of endurance through hardships that abides in His truth and outlasts all opposition.  It is the Greek “hupomene”.   In his book, “A light in the Darkness” Rick Renner states that this Greek word is “that quality of character that gives one the supernatural ability to remain steadfast and never surrender his position or belief even in the face of insurmountable challenges and stress.”

A farmer friend has an old hourse he calls patience becasue he is so steady and never complains.  That steadfastness was certainly in our Lord Jesus; and those who believe in Him discover that in God’s time, the complete positive victory of righteousness and grace is manifest not only in the believer’s life but in the lives of those for whom they pray!

The early Church called it the “Queen of all virtues” for those who possessed this virtue would eventually outlast hard times and see their sufferings turned into joy as they became champions whose lives overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony loving not their own lives even unto the death!  (Rev. 12:11)

Evil tries to overcome the light of Jesus Christ but when we practice the “patience of Jesus Christ” we endure and in God’s time witness the glorious light of Jesus Christ pushing its way into full view.  

More than once I have personally witnessed the patience of the saints as they continued to love and share until those whom they love and the circumstances they prayed about all turned to become great glorious victories of His love and care.  Amen and Amen!

Yes, there are times when we need to practice the patience of Jesus Christ who always wins in his time.