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“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:1-4 {NKJV}
Fall is here. My favorite season of all.
Once the chill of the air begins to replace the warm sunny days, my thoughts always start to consider my roses and other flower and fruit-bearing plants.
I know from my research and experience, pruning is a must if my plants are going to produce the most beautiful fruit in the spring.
We have been talking a lot about negative emotions and taking control of them instead of letting them control us.
We’ve talked about taking responsibility for own actions that are produced straight from our emotions.
We have also spent time talking about laying things down from our lives that have nothing to do with God–things that are bearing no fruit.
What does this have to do with fall, the vine, and the Vinedressor?
Our Savior died on the cross so we could have the opportunity to choose Him. In choosing Jesus, we also choose the vinedresser.
I often think of the vinedressor when pruning my roses. I have learned that not every shoot that comes up, though it looks healthy, is healthy. This is the same thought process we need to have when taking a good look at ourselves and the branches extending from us.
We have many branches.
~ Work Branch
But have you thought about the following as branches? Read them slowly…
Doubts-Beauty-Jealousy-Self Imposed Burdens-Racism-Control-UnMet Expectations-Failure-Reputation-Materialism-Deceitfulness: each represents the fruit of satan.
Do any of these jump out at you? If they do, it’s time to cut the branches.
I am sure we all agree that none of the above bear the kind of fruit God is looking for. In His vast wisdom, He knows that cutting them off at the knot is best for us.
Gardeners know that when you cut a branch off at the knot, when done right, from the knot grow many new branches.
So let’s look at some good fruit-bearing branches.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
When we compare the two types of branches, we see a stark contrast between them.
Joy-Peace-Longsuffering-Kindness-Goodness-Faithfulness-Gentleness-Self Control! These branches are the branches God will never cut. He will only prune, allowing each to grow healthy and strong!
John 15 tells us that judgment comes. Our Father comes as Lord of the Harvest and will judge each branch, cutting off the ones that bear no fruit–exposing us for who we are.
We can rejoice in this, knowing He loves us too much to leave us the same way He found us. Embrace the season that Fall brings. Submit to God as He judges each branch. Allow the vinedresser to cut and prune you into the woman He created you to be.
Though there is pain in the process, sweet joy comes, as spring reveals the beauty the vinedresser has left behind;
{Daddy, You are the vine and I am the branch. We look to You. Please cut every branch in me that does not bear fruit. Prune me Lord in the areas you see that I need to grow. I ask for courage to lay down the things You are showing me. I ask for understanding as I learn to abide in You, that I may bear good fruit in the years to come. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.}
Praying for each of us,
Cherie
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Photo credit: used by permission from; http://www.timharman.com/gods-creation-fall/
