启示录经常被视为一封待解密的信件。它的目的是让人瞥见遥远的未来。然而，在这卷书中，除了耶稣和圣灵的声音外，约翰也加入说话，而他的叙述通常都是与当下的事有关的。这卷书讲述当时正在发生的事，其中所占的篇幅，和讲述将来要发生的事的篇幅其实差不多。
基于他自己的经历，约翰知道，和他一样相信耶稣的信众正在面对什么困境。约翰这样描绘基督徒的信仰和生活：“在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有份。”他用现在式来形容跟随耶稣的人的境况。
约翰的话表明了一个忠心的牧者的心肠，他不是站在一个安全和遥远的讲坛传讲患难和忍耐，他乃是以“弟兄”和在“忍耐里一同有份”的身份说话的。这个与众信徒“站在一起”的身份，令人感到他的话非常可信。
我们需要弟兄姊妹、朋友和同伴，来鼓励我们过跟随耶稣的生活。基督徒的见证能带给我们过信心生活所需的激励，特别是当我们很难做到“忍耐”时就更需要了。
在今天，你可以与谁分享你正在面对的忧虑、藉此激励他呢？有没有人曾经让你看到，他在艰难的生活中凭信心度过的见证？
主啊，我为那些鼓励我去继续跟随你的忠心领袖和朋友们感谢你。阿们。
启示录 1:9
9我约翰，就是你们的弟兄，和你们在耶稣的患难、国度、忍耐里一同有份，为神的道并为给耶稣作的见证，曾在那名叫拔摩的海岛上。
“I, John, [am] your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus... “ - Revelation 1:9
Revelation is often read as a coded letter written to give a glimpse into the distant future. But John, who adds his voice to that of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in this letter, often speaks in the present. This letter speaks as much about what is currently happening as about what will happen in the future.
From his own experience, John knew the tough times that his fellow believers in Jesus faced. John characterized the Christian faith and life as “the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus.” These are present-tense descriptions of following Jesus.
John’s words reveal the heart of a faithful pastor. He did not preach suffering and patient endurance from the safety of a distant pulpit. He spoke as a “brother” and as a “companion” in this suffering. This position of “standing with” fellow believers gave credibility to his words.
We need brothers and sisters, friends and companions to encourage us in a life of following Jesus. The testimony of fellow believers in Christ gives us the encouragement we need to live by faith, especially when “patient endurance” is hard to come by.
Whom can you encourage today by sharing with them the concerns you are facing? Who has shown you examples of faithful perseverance through difficulty in their lives?
Lord, thank you for the faithful leaders and friends who encourage me to keep following you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
