Photo Credit: Cami Seaton
Most gardeners who grow grapes make a common mistake: they don’t prune hard enough. Those who are wise enough to cut back the old wood fearlessly, produce the most fruit. If you want grapes aplenty, you must prune the grapevines in your care.
And if you want spiritual fruit in your life, you must be pruned as a person. It is a difficult and painful process to endure, but the cutting back produces a harvest of purpose.
Jesus said:
“I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of Mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
Whoa. EVEN MORE. I’m stuck on those two words…
Pruning implies loss and less, but actually it is only the key to gaining more. The Father knows just how hard to prune His children and every branch that is cut must first pass through His hands. He works skillfully and masterfully in our lives, pruning us in stages and during the right season. The Father is so careful with you and with me and as I once heard, so close to us as He does His work.
Jesus continues:
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father.”
You and I dread the pruning shears. God picks them up purposefully knowing they are a means to an end, a necessary part of producing fruit that will last. We see the branches cut back… God sees the future fruit. He has more for us, not less. God, please give us a glimpse of the grapes to come!
You are Loved, Erica
P.S. Read more in John chapter 15.
