Christ is Near

Acts 23:11

“11 That night the Lord stood near him and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.”

Paul, in prison and in the custody of Roman officials, must have wondered if he had come to the end of his journey.  But, that night “the Lord [Christ] stood near him”.  This must have been a wonderful experience, even in prison.

We are taught that God is everywhere present, in all events and at all times.  But there are those times when God gives us a special glimpse of His presence.  

In all of his travels over the known world, the Holy Spirit had led Paul and given him visions and signs of God’s presence.  But on this night, Christ revealed himself to Paul in a way that made him physically feel His nearness.

Christ’s message to Paul that night was that his work was not over.  He was to go to Rome and be His witness there.  And he was to speak boldly.

Christians, in all things, in all places and at all times we are to have the comfort, the courage and the conviction given to Paul in a Jerusalem prison.

For Christ is near.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)