Something To Consider...

Here's something Jesus said about our fruit...

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 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...
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned." John 15:1-2, 4-6

What a sobering thought... Any time that we try to produce fruit apart from Christ we fail! And not only that, but if we don't produce fruit at all than we are considered ineffective as a part of the kingdom of God. Look at what Christ says here, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away..." The emphasis that Christ puts on the fruit in our lives is absolutely emphatic!

Here's something else to consider: "...and every branch in Me that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit." Just because you are striving to develop fruit in your life doesn't mean that you are exempt from pruning. Jesus says every branch that bears fruit will be pruned. You cannot escape the refining process of God's pruning in your life. Of course, as believers, we should look forward to these times of pruning, even though they are quite painful to endure. For there is nothing like the merciful pruning of our Father who loves us with an everlasting love. Know that He is only pruning from you the things that you do not need anyways. Thankfully, God is a much better vinedresser than I am! I can sometimes prune a bush with a bit too much vigor... and suddenly things look a little out of balance, but God takes who we are and prunes us to our fullest potential for growth!

I won't lie to you and say that being pruned is the most wonderful experience you will ever have. Anyone who has been through pruning knows that it is the exact opposite. The results of being pruned, though, are inexplicably greater than any pain it costs you to get there! Not to mention, if you consider what it cost Christ to save a wicked and depraved people... I think a little pain on our part is quite a reasonable sacrifice to be made!

Please, take some time to meditate on these verses and consider the areas in which you might need to be pruned. I assure you that if you pray and ask God to remove from you the things that are not from Him, He will do so! I challenge you to take that first step in being willing to be pruned... It takes faith in the love of our Father to ask such a thing, but He is indeed faithful to produce in us the greatest fruit we could ever bear!

Grace and Peace!