I remember a particular class break when I was in university. I was sitting alone in a waiting area and a person approached me and asked if I would swap a breath mint for a cigarette. I refused the offer. He then continued conversing with me. Eventually he asked me if I wanted to become his disciple; if I agreed he could make me his disciple immediately! Of course, I refused.
I must have looked vulnerable at the time.
What are our vulnerabilities? We can look at our modern-day world and easily be convinced that the world is coming to an end. There are signs and persecutions everywhere. I remember the Y2K bug. Computers were programmed to handle only the years in the 1900s and not the 2000s. Preachers proclaimed the end of the world. Prophets of doom warned of financial systems crashing down (although I didn’t believe it, I did really hope for the crash so my debts would be wiped out!).
Jesus encourages us to weather the storm and stay firm in the faith and not be led astray.
God of rock-solid promises, you have always been and will always be. Reassure our faith so that we may daily follow you in and through all things. Amen. —