May 6, 2009

Pruning

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He prunes every branch that produces fruit--so that it will produce more fruit." John 15:1-2

The gardener prunes the branches--but not without wise purpose. Oh, what a job God has to do on each of us! The Master gardener looks into His garden and sees us with all the things surrounding us and in us that are causing destruction and hindering our growth. This process in spiritual pruning is not always easy but will eventually bring comfort and freedom for those on whom the knife is doing its painful work.

For one thing, we are told that "My Father is the gardener" (verse 1). We know that our Father loves us and would never do anything unloving or hurtful to His children. We know that He is infinitely wise, that He looks far on in our life, planning the largest and the best good for us, not for today only--but for all the future; and that what He does, is certainly the best which could be devised. In every time of sharp pruning, when the knife cuts deep and the pain is sore—sometimes it is hard to remember, "My Father is the gardener and how much He loves us!"

Another thought in all such afflictions--is that it is the fruitful branch which the Father prunes. Sometimes godly people say when they are led through great trials, "Surely God does not love me--or He would not afflict me so much" But it should take away all distressing thoughts about our trouble, to read the Master's words, "He prunes every branch that produces fruit." It is not punishment to which we are subjected--but pruning; and it is because we are fruitful that we are pruned.

In the object of the pruning, "He prunes every branch that produces fruit--so that it will produce more fruit." The one object of all God's pruning, is fruitfulness. The figure of pruning helps us to understand this. When one who knows nothing of such processes sees a man cutting away branch after branch of a tree or vine, it would seem to him that the work is destructive. But those who understand the object of the pruning--know that what the gardener is doing, will add to the vine's value and to its ultimate fruitfulness.

Pruning seems to be destroying the vine. The gardener appears to be cutting it all away. But He looks on into the future and knows that the final outcome will be the enrichment of its life, and greater abundance of fruit.

What is it that God needs to prune from you today?

An attitude?

People in your life?

Hurt, bitterness, un-forgiveness?

Self-destructive behaviors?

Today is the day you turn to God and say, “Father here are the pruning shears. I give you permission to cut away from me whatever it is that is keeping me from you or holding me captive! I know it will hurt, I know I will have pain, but for my own good take this thing from me and give me the strength to move on in my life. Father, I trust you and now I give you my obedience and submission, as a living sacrifice, to cut away.

“Ouch, that hurt!”

but

“Thank You! I needed that!!”

Under the same knife…

Darrel Mason

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