Pruning

(Note:  I evidently missed the deadline yesterday. Find two slices of Daily Bread today.)

John 15: 1-8

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Anyone involved in gardening or orchards, knows the value of pruning:  stronger plants and more fruit.  We don't know, however, how the plant or tree "feels" when our cutters or saws remove what appears to be healthy branches. Perhaps there is some pain, and yet, the end product brings them (and us) joy and satisfaction.  

So too with us, when some sort of cleansing of soul, or attitude, or relationship, or even of prayer, takes place. It hurts, we shy from it, we put it off to a later date, yet despite all the cringing we bear it and in the end turn out better for having gone through the process.

In our relationship with Jesus, look at the benefits of pruning and cleansing.  Let's spend some quality time with this passage and yield to the Lord's pruning knife. He knows what he's doing.

Bro. Rene