Yesterday we went to see an Amish farm with the girls in our home. I saw some grape vines on the farm. I always love seeing grapevines because John 15 comes to my mind. I gave the girls in our home some promise verses from John 15 this week, so they could have fun thinking about the wonderful promises in that chapter.
One statement which strikes me is that we can do nothing of ourselves. We can only live by the spiritual life and energy of Christ, just as the grape vine cannot have any fruit unless it gets the life from the vine. Spiritual fruit is the natural result if we rest in God's strength to live the Christian life.
Another promise that hits me is that the Father prunes every branch that bears fruit. Not some of the branches. So we can know that we will be pruned. Unhelpful growth will be trimmed off of us. You may think that does not sound very exciting.
The exciting part of the pruning is the purpose for pruning. We are pruned so we will bear more fruit. In the past when I have gone through a hard time, I realize that God is using it in my life to prune me. That hard time is made easier when I live by the promise that it will produce more fruit in my life.
The thought that good things will result from pruning has really helped me when I have lost a job, or when a project didn't work out the way I hoped, or someone disappointed or hurt me. I have hope that I will perhaps be a greater blessing to more people. Perhaps my character will grow. Perhaps I will be better positioned to use my gifts, or to be blessed by the Lord. There is always a way in which I will be more fruitful after the pruning. Wow, what a hope and a promise.
It is good to live in the vine and to have God the Father as the gardner in my life.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
