Big Idea: A natural part of an organic relationship with God is the process of pruning. Just as a plant is healthier after pruning and has revitalized growth, so a Christian experiences growth when unhealthy areas of their lives are trimmed or thinned. Though this process can be painful in the moment, the outcome is divine and beautiful. As a follower of Jesus we must see God’s work in our lives as something that has our best in mind and his glory at stake.
THINK: God is the divine gardener who has our spiritual growth as his ultimate goal. God will use anything in our lives to shape us into the people that he wants us to be. If there is something in our lives that is unhealthy for us, God will want to prune it. If there is something in our lives that is good but not the best, God will want to prune it.
FEEL: Jesus is the source of all life and every person must be careful to remain connected to him. To grow deep roots that will sustain us through anything we will face in life, we must receive acceptance, guidance and love as a branch receives from a vine.
DO: We mustmake a conscious decision to welcome God’s pruning in our lives. Join him in actively seeking out areas of our lives that he would like to effectively change.
Prayer: “Our deepest desire is to grow in our relationship with you, God. Please search our hearts and know our minds and remove those things that will cause us harm. May your divine work in our lives cause us to be faithful followers of Jesus. May our roots grow deep into your love and give us a solid foundation for our lives.”
JOHN 15:1-5
The Vine and the Branches
“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.”