by DP
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” – John 15:1–4
This passage brings forth many teachings that will enrich the life of any human being. Here, Jesus was talking to his disciples about the importance of the relationship with the Father and with Him. He stressed the invaluable principle that relationships play in everyday life. And he makes very clear in the following passages that without a relationship with Him, the works of men, would be temporary.
But it is very interesting that he makes a distinction between cutting and pruning, and rightfully so. When you cut off a branch it is displaced completely, it is severed. All nutrients, water, and everything that gave it life are gone. It is discarded as not being part of the grapevine any longer. No effort, no energy will be spent in order to maintain, to nurture or give life to this branch. Likewise there are some relationships that need to be severed in our lives. Relationships that only take from us our energy, time, and resources, and we never see any fruit. These are relationships that never add to your life, they only take. They don’t celebrate you, they criticize you. These are relationships that need to be cut.
But when you prune the grapevine, it might appear that you are also cutting it since you are making its appearance lest abundant. But in reality what pruning does is that it creates capacity and space so it can grow ever bigger. The same way happens with us. Sometimes we have to prune some areas of our lives. Not to sever them but to create capacity, to make space in order to grow and be fruitful. Be it relationships or at work, sometimes less is more. The space created by the events that prune your environment, will translate into focus, and fruitfulness.
In each case, your actions will lead you to a better place in your life. And when we remain in Him, the True Grapevine, we will bear much fruit and our lives and those around us will benefit from it. So what will it be, to cut or to prune?
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
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© Copyright DP, 2011
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.