I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit He cuts away; and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you. Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. John 15:1-4 (AMP)
It seems that most often when this passages is brought up, they talk about the bearing fruit. There's another aspect in these verses. It's pruning. God prunes us sometimes. But what is pruning? Pruning is something that is done to help make plants healthier, produce fruit and helps that plant grow in a controlled form. When a gardener prunes a plant he doesn't do it all they time. In the very beginning, there is no pruning done, to help the plant grow strong roots. It's done during seasons. Normally in a season when the plant isn't growing. In the beginning the pruning is done to help the plant grow fruit. If a vine has several branches it will have trouble producing good fruit, so it is trimmed down to only a few branches. After that it is pruned to maintain the good fruit.
God does the same thing to us. In the beginning He doesn't do any pruning, so that we can grow strong in His word. He wants you to have our roots firmly planted in Him. As we grow, that's when the pruning starts. First God starts pruning us so that we can be healthier in Him. We start to understand the need for changes in our life. We try and reflect God's character more and more. He then starts to produce so that we can bear fruit. We need to bear the fruit of the spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) After we start to bear these fruits God will prunes to keep our growth and fruit produce under control.
Pruning looks like different things. God will send us through trails and hard times to help us. God will allow the devil to tempt you in order to prune you. Pruning doesn't have a standard way of being done. Each person is different and God prunes according to how He wants to use you. Sometimes it hurts. Pruning can be very painful. One thing to bear in mind is that happen in seasons. You may feel awesome and like there is much growth going on. Your walk with God maybe amazing and you may be doing a lot. Then it changes. Life may get hard. Just remember maybe God is pruning for great and bigger things.
Some pruning is cutting things. There maybe habits that are unhealthy or produce bad fruit. In time, God will prune these away. You may have a person in your life that needs to be pruned. People that have negative effects in life need to be pruned away. I'm not saying avoid people. Sometimes spending time with Negative Nancy begins to rub off on you. Maybe spending time with these people one on one isn't a good idea. Sometimes even responsibilities need to be pruned. It's ok to say no. If you are doing something and it's taking away time from that something that is good in your life, like God, or your family. Do you really need to be doing it? Everybody has some kind of fluff that could be pruned away too.
Don't be scared of getting pruned. If you feel like God is pruning, think about what is being cut away and what fruit it might help you produce. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, they all help you reflect God, they all help you be more Christ like. Reflect on what's happening and try to gain some understanding of what God is doing. You don't enjoy fruit that is bad, bitter, and sour. Do you want to produce rotten, ugly, sour fruit or would you like to produce good, beautiful, sweet fruit? After God puts down the shears, He takes care of the plant giving it all the things a plant needs to grow.
Sure, it hurts, it's painful, but when something is being cut away doesn't it hurt? But in the end you'll be better.
I love how God does let us establish our roots, like you said he does not prune too early. Years ago, I used to wonder, "Why would God cut and cast away?" IT seems mean, but as you shared it is in the right season :) He loves us so much and desires our best, preparing us for our lives....growing and maturing us.
ReplyDeleteEven though we may not be pruned in early stages, sometimes guide posts are placed to direct how we grow... example: tomatoes! :o) Or even string beans. Sometimes we're stubborn and want to grow in our own direction, but God uses His Word, the Holy Spirit, other mentors, to help direct our growth in the right direction.
ReplyDelete