Saturday, July 15
Pruned
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 3-4, Psalm 82, John 15
John 15:2–4 He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit. 3 You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
Observation
Jesus used the metaphor of a tree/branch (or a vine/branch) of our relationship with Him. We must remain in Him to be fruitful, just as a branch must remain on the tree. Fruitless branches are cut off and thrown away; fruitful branches are pruned to bear more fruit. (There is a play on words in the Greek. “Take away” or “cut off” in v. 2 is airo. “Prune” in v. 2 is kathairo.) The only way a branch can bear fruit is if it remains on the tree.
Application
We have fruit trees. I cut off and throw away dead branches and suckers—they will never bear fruit. I prune fruitful branches so they’ll bear more fruit.
Two applications today:
First, remain in Jesus to bear fruit. This is the single most important aspect of being fruitful. Without it, I have no hope of being fruitful. With it, I can’t help but be fruitful. What does it mean to remain in Jesus? The Greek word meno means “to remain, stay, abide, reside, dwell.” Live with Jesus. Stay connected so His life can flow into me.
Second, accept pruning. Pruning is not fun. You get trimmed, cut back, reduced. I think of Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Pruning is not pleasant, but painful; but it produces a harvest—more fruitfulness.
I’m going through some pruning and it’s been difficult. But rather than resist or resent it, I need to joyfully accept it as the way to greater fruitfulness. My Father is the Gardener—He knows what He is doing.
Prayer: Jesus, I love You and I want to remain in You—close! Connected! Let Your life flow into me and make me fruitful. And help me accept the Father’s pruning so that I can be more fruitful and bring glory to the Father.