John 15:1-2 Vine + Branches #190

While I can’t say I know a thing about gardening, which would be obvious if you saw our flower beds (or lack-thereof) I do love any analogy that helps me better understand my relationship with Jesus. John 15:1-2 says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”‘

In this passage Jesus is the vine and God is the gardener. And you and me? We are the branches. Anyone who is a believer in Christ is considered a branch. Verse 2 say that God, the gardener, “cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.” This might sound harsh, but this is reality. What happens when a branch dies? The gardener separates it from it’s roots, by cutting it off, right? Well believers are no different. Believers who turn their back from Christ, will also be separated from the vine, Jesus. There are several reasons this passage probably says they will be cut off, but one is because fruitless branches will infect the rest of the tree. Why keep the branches that won’t bear fruit? Just as you would cut off any branches that contain disease in your garden outside, the same holds true with your spiritual life.

And those branches, or people, that do bear fruit? They are pruned so the can grow further. As said earlier, I don’t know much about gardening, but a friend recently invited me to a flower arrangement class and something I learned there was to prune the lower pieces of a vine, because it helps the flower remain stronger and healthier. God’s Word is suggesting the very same with those who follow him. When you are rooted in him, he will prune you so that you become more fruitful.

The pruning process is never easy, but there is always an end goal in mind and that is you would look more like Jesus and in turn, produce more spiritual fruit. It is through the pruning process that God molds you to be more like him. So what areas of life can you prune so that you would look more like Jesus? Or, in what ways has God used situations or trials to prune you?

PS. Are you looking for support on your fertility journey? Did you see the announcement I made?

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