Being Pruned Like A Branch

~Brandon James Scott Scholl

Joh 15:1 Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Joh 15:2 He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit.
Joh 15:3 you are already clean because of what I have said to you.
Joh 15:4 Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.
Joh 15:6 if you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire.
Joh 15:7 Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.
Joh 15:8 when you become fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honored.

In this context, Christ says that we are branches. Here’s something to think about though, why do you trim and prune a branch?

You trim and prune because it gives it a chance to continue to grow and even grow stronger. For this reason, things happen in our lives that we don’t enjoy. Sometimes these things are bad and sometimes these events in our lives are just difficult. Another good way to look at it; God brings people in your life and takes other people out of it. Why would He do this to us? To help us to continue to produce fruit.

When a gardener prunes a branch it’s a shock to the tree. You’re essentially cutting off a part of a living thing. But you’re doing it because you also know that it will be stronger later. Just like that branch, that part will scab over and grow stronger later. In fact, it will produce more fruit.

Now, it’s the same thing with our life. God is the vine that we are a part of. Because the church is the Body of Christ then that means that we, as the people, are its branches. So, God sees that you’re producing fruit but He wants you to produce more because that’s His plan and will for your life.

So, does God “create” bad events in our life or does he allow bad things to happen to us? God is perfect so there can be no wrong in him so the things, the hardships in our life – the bad things that happen to us that in the end help us grow or that prune us aren’t from God but more of God allows them.

Now, like my pastor says, I’m going to meddle a little bit and step on some toes. What do you do on your time? Do you read your bible regularly or pray regularly or do you do something else? A good example that most people can relate to is the TV. Do you sit there in your living room or bedroom and watch TV every evening religiously instead of reading your bible, meditating, or praying? If God wants you to be in His word more or if He wants you praying more I guarantee that He’s going to let something happen in your life where you will have to turn to Him or maybe just put it on your heart to change.

Now, this doesn’t seem like it at the time its happening but that’s a way of being pruned. He’s taking something that isn’t necessarily beneficial in your life and He’s going to cut it back to you. Just something to think about.