While pastoring in central California I was surrounded by vineyards. Have you ever walked through a vineyard? In John 15, Jesus’ words to His disciples reveal that He had passed through many vineyards. He had no doubt observed a caretaker faithfully preparing the grape vines for harvest: tenderly and thoroughly examining each vine and its branches to ensure maximum yield for many seasons to come.
Jesus used this metaphor of the vineyard to emphasise, among other things, the necessity of the Father tenderly trimming branches in our lives so we can produce an even greater yield for His Kingdom. The Father separates the unproductive branches from the vine, enabling the remaining branches to flourish.
Today what do you need to prune from your life so you can become more fruitful? Pruning can be painful and perplexing, but every believer, regardless of call or creed, and if he or she remains organically connected to the true vine, is commissioned, and pruned to bear eternal fruit. Are you a believer? then you are a candidate to be pruned and trimmed tenderly and thoroughly empowering you to thrive and flourish as you faithfully abide in God. If you’re not a believer, then choose to make Christ the centre of your life. Allowing Him to remove all the negatives from your life.
“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.” John 15:1-2
Let’s Pray
Yahweh, thank You for Your love. Father, help me to discern and to surrender to your daily pruning process so that I can faithfully and effectively bear fruit for Your kingdom. God, please Empower me for maximum yield in the harvest fields of my sphere of influence no matter how hard it may be. In Christ’s name Amen.
