“Each department that does bear fruit He prunes in order that it is going to be much more fruitful.” – John 15:2
Nobody enjoys being pruned. After we face challenges, setbacks, or surprising disruptions, it will probably really feel like one thing is being taken away—typically painfully so. However in gentle of our Abide sequence and our research of John 15, Jesus offers us a recent perspective: Pruning isn’t punishment. It’s preparation.
The Vine and the Gardener
In John 15:1, Jesus tells us, “I’m the True Vine, and my Father is the Gardener” (ESV). Simply as a gardener rigorously prunes a wholesome department to assist it produce extra fruit, God lovingly removes issues from our lives—to not hurt us, however to place us for progress.
Pruning is an indication that you simply’re already bearing fruit! If you happen to weren’t producing something, there’d be nothing to prune. God prunes those that are already being efficient as a result of He sees extra potential than we do. The query is, will we belief His course of?
Disruptions or Divine Pruning?
Initially of this yr, Pastor Dave shared a phrase for our church: “Disruptions.” Some could have taken that as a warning of hardship, however what if these disruptions are actually moments of divine pruning? Consider the biblical figures who skilled pruning and what it led to:
- Joseph was stripped of his coat and thrown into jail, nevertheless it was preparation for the palace (Genesis 39).
- Moses spent 40 years within the wilderness earlier than main Israel (Exodus 2-3).
- Paul’s transformation made him a fearless apostle.
- Hannah’s ready ready her to lift a prophet.
None of them noticed the total image on the time, however God’s technique of pruning was making ready them for a better goal.
What Does Pruning Look Like As we speak?
In our every day lives, God will prune us in numerous areas. It might be in relationships the place God friendships and partnerships shift in order that God can align us with the fitting individuals. It might be in alternatives the place doorways shut so different “God doorways” can open. He can convict you of sure habits which are holding you again from a better diploma of usefulness. He may even take you out of consolation zones and stretch you past the place you’re feeling secure so you’ll be able to study to belief and rely extra on Him.
I really like the way in which C.S. Lewis places it in his traditional guide, Mere Christianity:
“Think about your self as a dwelling home. God is available in to rebuild that home. At first, you perceive what He’s doing. However then He begins knocking the home about in a manner that hurts. You don’t perceive. The reason is that He’s constructing fairly a distinct home from the one you thought—placing in a brand new wing, an additional flooring. You thought you had been being made into a good little cottage: however He’s constructing a palace.”
Pruning is God’s manner of telling you that you’re a palace, the place you solely see a cottage.
Don’t Resist the Pruning—Embrace It
The worst factor we are able to do is resist God’s pruning course of. As a substitute, we have to stay related to Jesus, trusting that He is aware of what He’s doing. As we heard from this weekend’s message, Andrew Murray mentioned it nicely: “The department exists solely to bear the fruit that the vine produces in it.”
We don’t must attempt to supply fruit—our job is solely to keep related to Jesus. If we abide in Him, He’ll handle the expansion.
So, if you happen to’re experiencing disruptions, setbacks, or surprising modifications, don’t be discouraged. You’re being pruned for one thing better. Keep related. Belief the method. And prepare for the fruit that’s coming.
