Pruning = Fruit

A couple month's ago I blogged about different gardeners.

The bad one whose garden is full of weeds. The good one whose garden is beautiful and full of fruit.

Well I just love the symbolism in John 15. I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Like alot. I will just share a tid bit here about what He has been teaching me. Come to the Aletheia Women's Sleepover to hear a little more on the subject.

John 15
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 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.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 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.5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have 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 remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

Gardens are where things grow. Many plants have to be pruned each year so they come back stronger, plentiful and more beauitful then ever.

"But when we are nourished by the right gardener we have the potential of becoming something beautiful. Now I am thinking about the verse in the bible that talks about the fruits of the spirit, and I am thinking I want God to grow me into a fruit tree that gives and sustains life, not kills it."

A couple months ago, I wrote when we are nourished by the right gardener. I didnt understand the aspect of pruning. What kind of gardener waters but never prunes?

These quotes were taken from the internet:

"Pruning is the process of removing certain above-ground elements from a plant; in landscaping this process usually involves removal of non-productive, or otherwise unwanted, disease portions from plant."

"Pruning is to shape the plant by controlling or directing plant growth, to maintain the health of the plant, or to increase the yield or quality of flowers and fruits."

Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law"


HA it is crazy cool how the symbolism in "literal pruning" of plants is so much like Yah's pruning of our lives. Pruning can be a painful process- no doubt. Sometimes He has to prune us to get us ready for whatever he has in store for us. Does He have to cut off certain areas of our lives? Certain habits? Certain people? Is it painful?... Sometimes, but Romans 8:28-29 tells us that ALL things work together for His greater good and that includes our process of being pruned.

If we are His disciples, disciples bearing fruit for Him, we are going to be pruned. It is part of the beautification process. If you are being pruned right now, hang in there.

Abide in His word. Abide is Menō in greek, and it means to abide. It is used over 10x in the first 10 verses. It is important that we remain with Him. Not necessarily worrying about if we are producing fruit or whether or not our lifes are beautiful representations of Him. Rather, just doing what He commands us to do- Remain In Him. He will produce the fruit organically when we remain in Him.

Apply: Am I making sure to stay on the vine every day by getting in the word?

Reflect: What areas of my life should I ask to be pruned?

Meditate:John 15:4-5

4 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. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.