Day 16 – Pruning

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” John 15:1-4

Our choice to work in God’s garden is a depiction of our acceptance of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Salvation. This choice grafted us into the True Grapevine allowing us to bear the sweet fruit of the Spirit. Jesus points to God the Father as the Gardener pruning and cutting away the barren branches.

As a novice gardener, I quickly learned which branches to cut and when and how to prune. But it was no pleasant task as I stood with the shears in hand and seeing the fresh, green wound on the bush I decided to cut and for a moment I wondered how much it hurts the Vine when the Gardener cuts away the barren branches. They were part of the Vine drawing living water and nourishment from it. But the Gardener knows best. These branches sap living water and nourishment from the fruit-bearing ones which in the end will cause them to stop fruiting too.

When Jesus said, “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.” It was an invitation for us to not just tend the vineyard but to abide in an intimate relationship with the Vine to produce fruit as part of the Body. Only by abiding in Him, we will accomplish this. Instead of taking the shears into your own hands, give them to God allowing Him to choose which branches to cut. He is our Father, the Creator, and the Gardener.

Prayer:  Our Father, our Gardener. Abiding in the true vine was and is the best decision of my life. I am taken care of by the Gardener and receive all I need from the Vine to grow and bear fruit. My prayer is that all will choose to abide in You, Jesus and there will be no branches cut from the Vine. Amen.