I think I've Been Pruned

I think I’ve been pruned, and the process might not be finished for this season.

In John fifteen we find the story of the Vineyard. In the second verse it reads, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit."

We each have experienced God’s working in our lives. We have all experienced change. Sometimes we feel that we take three steps forward and two steps back. Sometimes we may need to be taken back even further.

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:13, "It is God who works in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure." Also in Ephesians 3:20 we are promised that "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly all that we ask or think, according to His power that works within us." The pruning process is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit that continues to prune our thoughts, attitudes, commitment, behavior, service, passion and willingness as we are further and further conformed to the likeness of Jesus. If this is the case I say, “Amen.” I am trying to take advantage of this time to learn, grow and commit myself further into the service of Christ.

I am constantly reminding myself that God is in control. This is a very important detail. HE is not only the Potter to the Clay, molding and making me. But HE is also the MASTER GARDENER. Managing HIS family tree. HIS desire is that as a branch I will produce fruit and in pruning to produce more. In all honesty I feel like the last few years have been non-productive. That I had done all I could do with what was given to me. And I think this is why this season of pruning is upon me.

Pruning is necessary to remove any dead wood, which can harbor disease and decay. The pruning of live wood improves the vines potential for fruit-bearing. Untrimmed vines develop unproductive growth--long, rambling branches that produce few grapes because the strength of the vine is given to growing wood. (And we all know that there is a lot of old wood out there that just doesn’t want to budge from its old way of growing.) Fruit contains the seed for more fruit, so the process continues on and on. I think it was time for me to move on to the next great planting season that the Lord has in store.

But no matter how you put it or for whatever reason(s), it hurts when pruned. Amidst the pain of the wounds it may inflict, I must remember the root! It is easy to find myself in a state of self pity when I hit a wall in life’s pathways. But I have got to keep to the root, to keep my focus upon the Lord, and draw strength from HIM.

Romans 8:28 reminds me, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Something I read is that the gardener prunes the branches to protect itself from self-destruction and to produce aggressive growth. The Father does this for us. The Greek word for ‘pruned’ here is kathairo and is similar to the word ‘clean’ in verse 3: John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. The Greek word for ‘clean’ is katharos. There seems to be a relationship with being clean and being pruned.

Okay, so what’s going to be my goal: comfort or to bear fruit? Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Without a doubt, God is more interested in me producing fruit, than my comfort. That is why He prunes! And pruning hurts!! It’s not comfortable! The goal of my life should be bringing glory to the Father by bearing fruit.

To close this long thought out I’ll just share with you: John 15:16-17 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. We are chosen by God to go and bear fruit. That’s all of our purpose!