Pastor’s Corner: “Life in the Vine”
John 15:1-2 (AMPC) – I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes 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.
If you neglect plants they suffer, or they grow wild shoots, and very often you find that fruitfulness is hindered. You would think that cutting a tree would lower the fruitfulness, but the opposite is true. Gardeners prune fruit trees for basically two reasons. The first is to strengthen healthy branches. By removing unproductive parts of a fruit tree, more energy can be directed to the good branches, resulting in better fruit. The second reason for pruning is to allow for more air and sunlight to reach parts of the tree that would otherwise be inaccessible. This is especially important for the center of the tree, which can become wet and vulnerable to disease if no pruning is done.
Most fruit trees must be pruned to increase the harvest. Other plants must be pruned to get them into the shape you like. In some ornamental gardens they have managed to cut some amazing shapes. Other plants have to be pruned because they cast too much shade on other parts of the garden. And sometimes you must prune plants because they become too overpowering and dominant. Then other plants can’t develop properly. Do you start to get the message?
In John 15 we read about Jesus being the vine, His Father being the vinedresser and us being the branches which bear fruit. It is talking about followers of Jesus, His disciples. They are already bearing fruit. But He prunes them in order to bear more fruit. What does that mean? He cuts away everything which is not in accordance with His word, His will, His original plan for mankind, His specific plan for every individual or His character and nature. When the Bible talks about fruit it is usually talking about godly character traits and not necessarily about deeds. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) – 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
God’s pruning can come as a correction, a discipline, a healing, a dying to our flesh life, a change of course, a sacrifice, a leaving behind, a deliverance, an exchange of a lie for the truth, a renewing of our mind, and a letting go of something we like for His higher purpose. Often, when discipline comes, it does not feel pleasant, but it does bring an everlasting joy and peace. We might think pruning involves only the removal of dead wood, but Jesus says his Father prunes the fruitful branches. It seems we are always eager to have God remove painful things from our lives. We pray that cancer will be taken away, and that God will eliminate relationship struggles, unemployment, or failing grades from our lives. But how willing are we to surrender good things to God’s pruning so that even more good will result?
In John 15 Jesus promises us we will bear much fruit if we stay connected closely to Him. Results are the outcome of effort, but fruit is the outcome of being in relationship. Staying connected with our true vine means maintaining an intimate daily relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! In abiding and dwelling with Him, He brings forth fruit in our lives. I believe this includes the ‘works’ He has prepared beforehand for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). We need a different perspective: In the pain of pruning, rather than pulling away from God we need to press in closer to Him.
Have you experienced some pruning this past year? How did that make you feel? What has been the result of this pruning? If we fully grasp the implications of this Scripture, could it mean that we should welcome pruning, as hard and painful as it may be? How could this understanding change our perspective on how God is dealing with sin in our lives?
If you are currently encountering a form of pain and suffering, consider a different type of prayer today. Instead of seeking for God to remove this from your life, join your heart with the Father’s. Ask if God has some life lessons that will further mold and shape you into a fruit-producing, instrument of his workmanship. Pray that God would use this pruning to expand your reach with the gospel, that through these experiences you might further magnify Christ.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton