“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, that it may
bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2 NKJ)
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, that it may
bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2 NKJ)
In twenty-first
century Christianity much is taught about blessings and material prosperity. It
is true that both spiritual and material blessings are taught in Scripture, but
such teachings can easily be taken out of context and misinterpreted, as well as
misapplied.
century Christianity much is taught about blessings and material prosperity. It
is true that both spiritual and material blessings are taught in Scripture, but
such teachings can easily be taken out of context and misinterpreted, as well as
misapplied.
Material blessings
and prosperity are popular subjects because they appeal to the flesh and
fleshly lusts. Yet, the serious disciple of Jesus is more concerned with the
personal fruit produced for Christ, rather than the personal blessings received
from Christ.
and prosperity are popular subjects because they appeal to the flesh and
fleshly lusts. Yet, the serious disciple of Jesus is more concerned with the
personal fruit produced for Christ, rather than the personal blessings received
from Christ.
While it is true
that I am “Christ’s, Abraham’s seed, and heir according to the
promise” (Galatians
3:29 NKJ), receiving great material blessings is not my focus. Instead, as
his disciple, Christ calls me to follow his example. Paul, the great Apostle,
gave us the Lord’s example in his Epistle to
the Philippians (chapter
2:5-8).
that I am “Christ’s, Abraham’s seed, and heir according to the
promise” (Galatians
3:29 NKJ), receiving great material blessings is not my focus. Instead, as
his disciple, Christ calls me to follow his example. Paul, the great Apostle,
gave us the Lord’s example in his Epistle to
the Philippians (chapter
2:5-8).
Christ adjusted his
spirit and attitude (his way of thinking). He gave up his rights and position.
He refused to build himself a reputation. He accepted the position of a slave.
He became like those he came to serve. He identified with them. He personally
related to them. He humbled himself. He became obedient. He submitted to death,
even to a criminal’s shame and death.
spirit and attitude (his way of thinking). He gave up his rights and position.
He refused to build himself a reputation. He accepted the position of a slave.
He became like those he came to serve. He identified with them. He personally
related to them. He humbled himself. He became obedient. He submitted to death,
even to a criminal’s shame and death.
And this same Jesus
is my vine. He is the source of everything good in me. My life is not about me
and my comfort and my happiness and my blessings. Rather, my life is about how
much fruit I can produce for Christ and his Kingdom.
is my vine. He is the source of everything good in me. My life is not about me
and my comfort and my happiness and my blessings. Rather, my life is about how
much fruit I can produce for Christ and his Kingdom.
And the Father of
Jesus is the gardener of my life. It is he that sees my fruit production. It is
he that judges the quality of my fruit. It is the Father who prunes me so that
I can produce even more fruit for his Kingdom. Herein is the crux of this whole
issue: will I submit to his pruning?
Jesus is the gardener of my life. It is he that sees my fruit production. It is
he that judges the quality of my fruit. It is the Father who prunes me so that
I can produce even more fruit for his Kingdom. Herein is the crux of this whole
issue: will I submit to his pruning?
The
non-fruit-bearing branch is removed from the vine. I certainly do not want to be removed from the
vine. But I struggle with submitting myself to getting pruned. How does God do
his pruning, anyway? By his Spirit and his Word (Hebrews 4:12 NKJ).
But, remembering our Lord’s attitude, I am encouraged to come boldly to his
throne (Hebrews
4:15-16 NKJ). And for his pruning, I need his grace more than ever.
non-fruit-bearing branch is removed from the vine. I certainly do not want to be removed from the
vine. But I struggle with submitting myself to getting pruned. How does God do
his pruning, anyway? By his Spirit and his Word (Hebrews 4:12 NKJ).
But, remembering our Lord’s attitude, I am encouraged to come boldly to his
throne (Hebrews
4:15-16 NKJ). And for his pruning, I need his grace more than ever.
Dear Father, thank
you for including me in our Lord’s branch system. Humbly I ask you to prune me
according to your will and make me more fruitful. I ask this in the name of
Jesus, the Lord. AMEN
you for including me in our Lord’s branch system. Humbly I ask you to prune me
according to your will and make me more fruitful. I ask this in the name of
Jesus, the Lord. AMEN
Submit to the
Father’s pruning today,
Father’s pruning today,