Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
Observation:
Pruning a branch involves ripping out any diseased parts, getting rid of bugs and even cutting away seemingly healthy but unwanted shoots so that the branch can grow stronger in the direction that the vinedresser desires. From the branch's perspective, being pruned can be uncomfortable, if not painful, and at times also appear to make no sense. But every branch should trust that the vinedresser knows what He is doing and be grateful for His care and attention. The time for concern is when the vinedresser stops pruning, as that means either the branch is perfect, or more often the case, the vinedresser is about to take away that branch because it does not bear fruit.
Application:
It is very hard for me, and others that I know, to not see pruning as a sign of failure. It feels very much like you are being punished for not performing up to standards. But those feelings are deceptive, because God disciplines and prunes those He loves. Sometimes, we even judge others and misdiagnose pruning as falling out of favor with God. I've seen this in ministry. If my team shrinks for various reasons, there is an immediate feeling of failure as a leader, and a handful of people see it that way too. But by pressing through those feelings, I've been blessed to see the team I lead grow leaps and bounds. We just all need to remember that the Vinedresser is good, even if the feelings we are having, and our perceptions of others performance are not.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for pruning me and Your church, so that we can bear even more fruit. I ask that You continue to prune and mold me as You see fit, also Lord help me to press through the negative and contradictory feelings when they come.
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