“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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.” [John 15:1-4 NIV]
Word Study: John 15:2 The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans (NIV Bible footnote)
REFLECTION
Pruning – loss of any kind – can be painful, but we can trust our loving Lord in the sanctifying process. He knows what really hinders us and what truly helps us. So when we find ourselves being pruned / cleaned, let’s not stiffen our necks in pride or harden our hearts in offence. Let’s keep ourselves full of His Word, with hearts open to His Holy Spirit, and allow Him to tend to us, as we tend to what’s been entrusted to us…trusting that good fruit will appear in God’s perfect timing, glorifying Him and nourishing the body of Christ.
PRAYER POEM: Fruitful
Lord God Almighty …my strength, my shield, to You I yield. Prune me, cleanse me and make my life a fruitful field.
Keep me tethered to You in all that I do and nourish me with Your love, that I may bear fruit from above.
Oh Vine Divine, Your way is sublime, perfectly good all the time, come rain or shine.
