In John’s revelation, he records Jesus’ introductory words:

Revelation 1:17–2:1 (ESV)

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, ¹⁸ and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. ¹⁹ Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. ²⁰ As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

I am encouraged today, by the nearness with which Jesus still interacts with his churches.  Jesus, who is alive forevermore, sends a message through John to his churches.  He holds the churches in his hand.  He assigns angels to each of them.  He walks among them.

Too often I forget this glorious thought of my king walking among the churches.  He walks among us.  Jesus, who said he would be with us until the end of the age (Matt. 28:20), meant that with us he would really be.  What a beautiful, frightening, and comforting thought.  He really is with us.  So let us take heart.