John 15:1-11
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
i would spend a lot of summers with my grandparents both my moms and dads side. Both of my grandma's loved gardening, flowers, plants, fruits and veggies. One thing that they always did and the proper time was to prune the plants. I thought as a child that seemed wrong why cut off a branch that looked pretty good. I didn't know so I asked each said the same thing. You have to cut the plant back to better it for next year, or something to that effect.
i understand now through scripture that we too, must be pruned as well, to better us, to help us grow in strength and be more fruitful.
The ones hearing Jesus saying this would have known what he was talking about when he said, "My Father is the vine dresser." God is the one who cuts of the weak branches or the branches that need to be cut off to make the rest better. To prune properly it must be at the right time of year, post harvest time. To prune properly you do not take the entire branch, just the tip maybe about 6 inches or so.
So, pruning doesn't mean death for the branch but just to take away that which is bad for the entire vine.
This scripture is at time taught that this cutting away is severing the bad branch in its entirety, in others death both earthly and spiritually but that is not what Jesus is teaching here.
Jesus is teaching on the cutting away of that which is bad for us, his followers. This is teaching sanctification, which is the process of being made holy. It is a gift given through the power of God to a person or thing which is then considered sacred or set apart in an official capacity within the religion.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary says that Sanctify:
- to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use to free from sin
- to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to
- to give moral or social sanction
- to make productive of holiness or piety
I like "to...inviolability" - which means to secure from violation. How awesome is that? Think about if with me for a moment. Why is it we as human beings start out life as a baby crying for every need? Why is it when we start to walk hold our hands out to momma or daddy? Why is it when we start school and head off either into the bus or door to our room and look back to mom or dad or whoever we look to for our security? Why is it when we are sick we cling to our sick bed, sturdy pillow, blankets and the important need medicine and our significant other for security? (this can be either our mom or dad or grandparent. It can also be our spouse when we are older, or even older caretaker).
We as humans long for security.
We search it out daily.
We cling to life
We cling to breath
We long for that one who gives us our safe place
We cannot live alone
we try
we fail
But all in all
We as humans have to have
SECURITY.
We as humans fail.
We cannot be someones everything
No matter how we try
No one on earth can give us total security
But
There is a Father
There is a Son
There is The Holy Spirit
There is security
Total and perfect
God is our Vine dresser
Jesus is our Vine
The Holy Spirit is our source
We have security - eternity
WE have salvation - in Christ
We have a helper - The Holy Spirit.
Think about it, why do we always go back to God, either in anger or fear or love or what have you? Because we as humans were made for God! We were not made for our own we were made for worship. We were made to live with HIM for eternity. We were made to be fruitful in all we do, for the GLORY OF GOD in CHRIST JESUS for died for us so that we can be made HOLY as HE IS HOLY.
This is AMAZING!!
Think about it, we are chastised at the proper times. It does NOT feel good. We get mad at God for letting things happen, we have trials and get caught in our sin. BUT, this is good for us. For God "for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:12 (HCSB)
The Holy Spirit will help us even when He is disciplining us. Isn't that great!?!?!
We get corrected by our Father in Heaven when we are in sin, but we do not have to go through the correction, disciplining chastisement alone.
John 14: 23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me. 25 “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.(emphasis mine)
We are not alone in this world of sin. Through chastening times and through trials we are made Holy. Take a deep breath and understand this and be prepared for it, it's a daily thing.
The good news is chastisement will only be in this world Eternity we will be Holy as God is Holy, we will be in His presence forever. The chastisement will be over and we will be at rest.
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