-picture taken from the Encyclopedia of New Zealand online
"Every Branch in me that Beareth Not Fruit, He taketh It away" --John 15:2
This is when Gods word starts getting intense. My God has an amazing sense of humor but is also a no nonsense God.
I remember when I first read this verse as a child, thinking of how beautiful it must look to see God pruning his vine, all the while increasing its beauty and productivity. Now that I am an adult I still see the beauty in the action, but now I also understand the impending doom in the matter for those parts quite literally CUT OFF, and how not good that must feel.
But then I started thinking wait... why and when does a Vinedresser actually prune the branches. Turns out there are season and different ways to do this all which are made to increase productivity. Ive read in various places that a plant that is only one year old should never be pruned. Once ready, only the most fruitful portions of the plant are generally pruned and these are pruned as close to the vine trunk. The vinedresser decide which direction it wants its plant to grow, so he prunes for two reasons to increase the productivity of the fruitful portions, and to give it shape, therefore cutting off the parts going in the undesired direction. The pruning is never random, its always in the desired season of growth.
WOW right? Viticulture has the ability to give us some pretty deep insights on how God deals with his Church.
In this portion of the passage he is directing his attention to the portions that are not producing fruits because they are going in simply the wrong direction, and lowering the beauty and value of the plant.
I cant tell you how many times Ive been that branch that needed pruning for different reasons, and how painful it is, and the healing process isn't the prettiest thing to go through. You have to go through that awkward emotional and spiritual roller coaster of having to recommit your life and/or that part of your life that refuses to be a part of your spiritual walk, and it straight up hurts. The beautiful part of this process is a) God is taking his sweet time to deal with us individually b) we are healed and renewed by that amazing root vine of Christ who tenderly heals us and makes us more fruitful, by pouring his life into our brokenness.
There is a verse that is widely quoted Philippians 4:13, "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength". He will and he can but only if we completely surrender to his nature, if not those parts of us or maybe even all of you will be cut off, because Gods greatest prize is his beautiful Vine which must remain producing the perfect grape.
Prayer: Lord, may what my life produces be only the most perfect fruits of your harvest that will bring healing and joy to all who get a taste of what it's like to be in your grace and perfect will. Amen.
