Look around you

Speaking of starting back to school, have you ever been in one of those classes where the teacher tells you to look around and recognize that a certain percentage will not pass. I'll never forget my Greek instructor in seminary. He had a wonderful sly smile on his face on the first day of class. He said "in this class salvation is by works...there is no grace". Following that word of encouragement he told us that if we worked very hard and studied very hard and did all of our homework, we just might pass. Beginning any journey brings some questioning of whether we have the right stuff to finish. Shortly after beginning we realize how much we don't know. Often the challenges are greater than we anticipated. Leadership expert Ken Blanchard calls that overwhelmed feeling becoming a "disillusioned learner". Jesus gave us a guarantee that we would be tested but He also guaranteed that He would equip us with everything required to emerge victorious.