God will do what it takes to cause your life to become as fruitful as possible. In the book of John, Jesus calls himself the vine and says that we are the branches (John 15). This means that Jesus is the very source of our life as Christians. As his life flows us into us, we should bear fruit that brings honor to God. The Lord is looking for and desiring this fruit from his people. This fruit involves godly character and godly actions and activities that make a difference for God and His glory.
A couple of weeks ago, we saw that God disciplines his children when they bear no fruit (John 15). He simply will not let us keep going in the wrong direction without seeking to intervene in our lives. God loves us enough to correct us and hopefully bring us back into a place of obedience and fruitfulness again.
In the same passage about the vine and the branches, Jesus promises to prune his disciples that do bear fruit: “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Jesus is talking about his Father’s strategy for coaxing greater fruit from the lives of believers. The word prunes means to cut back or thin out. If you are a Christian whose life is bearing fruit, there are times where God will intervene to prune you so you might bring about more fruit.
A grape vine’s tendency is always for more growth. They can grow so vigorously that they need to be cut back every year. If they are not cut back, they will become so dense that it will hinder the fruit itself. With all of the growth, it will look luscious but the growth will be underwhelming. The vinedresser cuts away any unnecessary shoots so the branches will be the most productive. Pruning is one of the single most important techniques to ensure a continual good harvest of fruit.
This is true for our lives as well as for the vineyard. This is why God prunes us at times. God cuts us back some times in order to bring about greater growth. We can sometimes develop preoccupations and priorities in our lives that are not always dead wrong, but they can often hinder greater growth. God must simply prune us to bring about more fruit.
As God prunes us, He asks us to let go of things that keep us from being more focused and productive. God prunes us to teach us, shape us and mold us. As He prunes us, we grow in our faith and become more committed to God’s kingdom purposes. Ultimately we become more humble and more effective.
Pruning involves cutting, and cutting hurts. It is not always fun. It may sound like discipline, but it is not. God’s discipline is a rebuke from God in love to get our attention and bring us to repentance. Pruning is an act of God’s love to shape our character and bring us into even greater fruitfulness.
One of the greatest tools for growth in our lives as Christians is adversity. God can use the hard times to make us and mold us. If you are Christian that has really grown, then you have been pruned. The greatest Christians with the greatest growth are those who have walked through tough times and held onto God. They trusted and believed him and when they came through, an amazing transformation had taken place in their lives.
God longs for fruit in your life. Will you trust Him in all circumstances? If so, He will bring you forth with great fruit in your life. And that’s the Word.