GOD Morning! Pruned or Burned, Pick One / March 19, 2018
GOD Morning! Pruned or Burned, Pick One
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:1-8
Recently, I was pruned by God Himself. The pain was excruciating. I cried for days.
prune: To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth. (the free dictionary)
I have choices. To accept the painful pruning process, allowing God to transform me, or to walk away. The outcome of walking away is to be cut off and burned. The temporary pain is preferable to the latter pain. Would I want to be cut off from my Jesus? No, thank you.
Multiple times, I actually said to God, “Thanks a lot! I prayed about this and You just left me here, a sobbing, pitiful mess. This is exactly what I did not want to happen. Thanks for nothing.”
I’m ashamed of my childish response.
What’s interesting is that I have these deep, amazing prayers. I feel so close to God and clean. And then real life happens. Being pruned doesn’t feel amazing at all. Quite the opposite.
In reality, I have no choice. I must remain in Christ. The benefits of remaining in Christ outweigh the pruning pain a million times over.
According to this passage, if I remain in Christ:
I will be more and more fruitful.
I will be clean.
I will receive whatever I ask of God.
Is it worth it? A million times, yes.
“Dear Jesus, thank You. Thank You for this awful pruning experience. I must remain in You. Do I really love You the way that I profess to? Then I must endure this pain in order to bear fruit. Thank you that You love me enough to prune me. I’m excited about my future; I will be fruitful, clean and reap many blessings from You. Please continue to cut away the dead or living branches on me that hinder my growth. In Jesus precious name I pray, AMEN.”
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:1-8
Recently, I was pruned by God Himself. The pain was excruciating. I cried for days.
prune: To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth. (the free dictionary)
I have choices. To accept the painful pruning process, allowing God to transform me, or to walk away. The outcome of walking away is to be cut off and burned. The temporary pain is preferable to the latter pain. Would I want to be cut off from my Jesus? No, thank you.
Multiple times, I actually said to God, “Thanks a lot! I prayed about this and You just left me here, a sobbing, pitiful mess. This is exactly what I did not want to happen. Thanks for nothing.”
I’m ashamed of my childish response.
What’s interesting is that I have these deep, amazing prayers. I feel so close to God and clean. And then real life happens. Being pruned doesn’t feel amazing at all. Quite the opposite.
In reality, I have no choice. I must remain in Christ. The benefits of remaining in Christ outweigh the pruning pain a million times over.
According to this passage, if I remain in Christ:
I will be more and more fruitful.
I will be clean.
I will receive whatever I ask of God.
Is it worth it? A million times, yes.
“Dear Jesus, thank You. Thank You for this awful pruning experience. I must remain in You. Do I really love You the way that I profess to? Then I must endure this pain in order to bear fruit. Thank you that You love me enough to prune me. I’m excited about my future; I will be fruitful, clean and reap many blessings from You. Please continue to cut away the dead or living branches on me that hinder my growth. In Jesus precious name I pray, AMEN.”
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