"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name. . . thou hast kept the Word of My patience. . .." (Rev. 3:8, 10).
That's it! It doesn't seem like much on the surface, but it must be very important if the Lord intends to make the Jews worship before us (v. 9). It must be very important if He intends to remove us via the Rapture before the Tribulation (v. 10), and if He intends to give us a crown (v. 11). It must be very important to Him because He intends to make us pillars in His temple, and to write His name upon us (v. 12).
So what pleases the Lord? First of all, born again believers are busy working for the Lord out of gratitude for His free gift of salvation; we are not religiously working to be saved (Eph. 2:8-10)!
Secondly, even though we have little strength, we are steadfastly defending His Word and His name!
And finally, our patience, our steadfastness in keeping His Word, and our unfailing hope in His return for us, please Him (Rom. 8:25; 15:4; 1 Thes. 1:3; etc.). Paul wrote, "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thes. 3:5). Jesus taught His disciples about God's patience when He reminded them that, just as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when He returns to destroy God's enemies (Matt. 24:36-42). Later, Peter wrote, "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water" (1 Pet. 3:20).
When we patiently proclaim and defend His Gospel, God is pleased with us!
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