John 15:2 Jesus says to us “I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser”. The agricultural lesson wasn’t lost on those listening to His message. Everyone knew what was needed to reap a bountiful harvest. But what they needed to hear and know was the simple yet priceless life lesson as He drew a
picture, a comparison, in something so familiar. Everyone has a role…God, the Vinedresser, Jesus the True Vine…and us, the branches…The fruit? That’s our service to God…It’s what we say and do, it’s our character, it’s who we are when no one’s looking. In considering what’s here, we see the branches receiving nutrients, vital nutrients needed to bear good fruit from the True Vine. It goes without saying, in order to bear good fruit the branches have to be connected to the Vine, its sole source being the Vine. What would cause a branch not to bear fruit other than separation from the Vine, and how does that happen? Storms of life, perhaps? In this analogy, we, as branches, receive Life from the True Vine and the Vinedresser prunes away what’s perhaps been broken or not fully receiving from the Vine so new life can begin. At first, the pruning process ‘feels’… uncomfortable, it may appear as discipline, harsh judgment. But we know a father disciplines a son whom he loves. Pruning…discipline removes ‘dead weight’, freeing us of any unrighteousness, removing any hindrance to bearing good fruit. It’s hard to admit to welcoming the pruning process, but the closer we are to Him, the deeper our relationship grows, we trust what He’s doing will grow our faith. Cleansing and pruning go hand in hand. Lord, You are our Keeper, and the lover of our souls. In humility, we crawl up onto the altar of sacrifice and ask You to remove from us anything that doesn’t belong to You, dead branches, bad fruit, all of it. Prune us, cleanse us that we would produce the good fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…
