“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.” – John 15:1-2
I mentioned in one of my previous blogs that God has given me John 15:1-17 as my verses for this year. I believe He gave me this passage because He really wants to teach me what it is to be a part of The Vine. As I continue to dig into this passage, God continues to pour out what He wants to teach me.
Over these past weeks, the Father has been showing me places in my life that are not bearing fruit. Some of them are not even bad things, but they are holding me back from life abundant.
The Father began to show me this through the passage above. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,” and I realized something. “Wait a minute, this is Jesus talking!!”, “Jesus had places in His life that didn’t bear fruit!? What!?”
That led me to another discovery. Bearing fruit is a choice, and it is possible to not bear fruit in areas and not be in sin. You see, Jesus never sinned. He is without sin so He could be the perfect sacrifice, pay our ransom, and restore THE way back to the Father. So if Jesus himself tells us that there were places in His life that didn’t bear fruit, letting God cut and prune us is a choice.
I believe the Father is showing me that we can live a great life for Him here on earth, but in the end, have never lived life abundant. We can still live redeemed, but have areas in our lives that do not produce fruit.
Maybe it’s our thoughts about ourselves.(Guilty) Maybe it’s caring more about what other people think about you instead of what God thinks about you. (Guilty) Maybe it’s the 3 hours of tv you watch every day. (Guilty) Maybe it is not having true close community because you’re scared of being completely vulnerable. (Guilty) Maybe it’s comparison. (Guilty) Maybe it’s living for God instead of from Him. (Guilty) Maybe it’s chasing after God instead of knowing He is already with you. (Guilty)
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for God to cut off the branches that are holding me back. I’m chosing to let God cut off the places of my life that are unfruitful because Jesus has shown me that it is worth it. Life abundant is worth fighting for. Paul says it very well in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
And lastly, this cutting and pruning process may be hard, but it’s full of joy.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off EVERYTHING that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the JOY set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
– Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV
If Jesus can have joy with the cross before Him, imagine the joy we can now have with a Risen Savior before us! Jesus invites us now to come and have a restored relationship with the Father and brought the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that rose Him from the dead to LIVE in us! I’ve heard that a million times, but if I’m honest I’ve scarcely really lived it. My mind knows it but parts of my heart are still learning how to accept it fully!
So I choose to keep pressing in. To let the Father cut and prune as Jesus and the Holy Spirit lead me deeper. To abandon all, so I can find life, and life more abundant.
For those reading who want the same. Go get it! You don’t have to be anywhere special to have this life. It is found in Him! Thank you all for following this journey, but I feel led to say that this Life is available where ever you are. I hope this encourages you to go deeper, to be vulnerable, and let God into the deep places. To let Him cut off the things that have been holding you back for so long. To be a part of the True Vine.
