“At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged.”
Paul was in dire straits at this point in his life. He had been accused of stirring up riots, desecrating the temple, being an all-around troublemaker by the chief priests and leaders, spent two years in a Caesarean prison, faced more hostility and accusations, was put under Italian guard, and spent a grueling winter-long sail from the island of Malta to Rome, to face yet another trial. When Paul landed in Rome, these men came to meet him. And boy, were they a sight for sore eyes. Their mere presence brought encouragement to his spirit, gratitude to his soul, and a heart full of praise toward God.
Are the desperate and discouraged filled with gratitude and encouragement by the mere sight of you?
As we prepare to gather with family, friends, church members and co-workers for holiday festivities this week, it would be beneficial to be intentional about our interactions. What will your presence bring to those in need this Christmas season?
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