This week, Clorrisa and I purchased some new

furniture for our living room. We spent hours in the store, looking

for just the right piece of furniture - something that was both

functionable and fashionable. It also had to be reasonably priced

for our meager budget. Getting Clorrisa and I to agree on the right

piece was no easy task. But, finally, we came to an agreement.

That's when the salesman really kicked his sales pitch into gear.

He made it his goal to sell us a "furniture protection" plan. I was

skeptical. Everything he said looked great... that was until I

looked at the fine print. It turns out, his deal was too good to be

true. It made me a little angry. I wish that he would have been up

front with us. In the second half of John 15, Jesus did for us what

my salesman would not. Jesus read the fine print. He gave us full

disclosure. At first glance, we may think Jesus would have been

wise to omit this little bit of truth. But Jesus wanted His

followers to have their eyes widely opened to His call. He was not

playing the "bait and switch" game. This Sunday, it's my prayer

that your eyes will be widely opened as, together, we seek to

follow Jesus on this life-long journey of discipleship. If you want

to prepare for Sunday, read over John 15:18-16:4 and analyze the

fine print!