Pruning is Necessary

Scripture: John 15:2 NKJ - Every branch that bears fruit,  He prunes it so that it may bear much fruit.
     
I witnessed my father pruning shrubs and trees within our living area in the south.  Me, just a youngster could not perceive the purpose of pruning. It appeared that my father was destroying the tree. There had already been some experience at enjoying the fruit from a particular tree. Fast forward: throughout all of my witnessing of pruning, there was never a time when any tree or shrub suffered destruction due to pruning. My family enjoyed a satisfactory yield, year after year.
   
I have come to realize that pruning is not easy yet necessary. Pruning involves the act of trimming (a tree, shrub, or a bush) by cutting away unwanted dead branches, stems, undergrowth to allow for new sizing, healthier growth, and increase fruitfulness. To carry out purposeful effective pruning, one must know what degree of cutting away to be done and the season best suited for doing so. Improper pruning can weaken the structure of the tree or shrub and affect life and natural growth. Most adults can identify with the pruning process, even though you may know little about farming or gardening.
   
Let’s take a look at pruning from a different perspective. God.  The creator of heaven and the earth – is a master gardener. For, the earth is the Lord’s and all its fulness (Ps. 24:1).  He is wise and watchful about His church and its need to prosper. From a vine, we look for fruit, but we look for a different yield of fruit from a Christian. His temperament and disposition; His life and conversation. By avoiding evil and doing good - Christians are honoring God and bearing fruit.   Even while being fruitful, further fruitfulness needs pruning. (1.) God takes away all that which is the hindrance of greater service and value to Him. (2.)  He removes all  that prevents believers from knowing and loving Him and prevent them from attaining their maximum potential in spiritual growth. (3.) The Lord desires to cut away all those areas that block one’s life from being productive for the kingdom (4.) God removes the undesirables so that only the desirable remains to show that selfish desires do not control us as we live for Christ (Gal. 2:22,23). With God, every fruitful believer undergoes pruning for greater productiveness.  His pruning focuses on the part that is covered up, the part that allows bondage.  He desires a heart with pure motives. He wants the good stuff. We serve well, doing lots of good things, but with the wrong motive. The Holy spirit reveals to man those areas that are affecting the believer’s productivity.  In the end, the believer might see God’s hand in pruning as necessary for eternal benefits (Rom. 8:28). He knows what it takes to increase our effectiveness in serving. Pruning enables the believer to open up to God’s will and His divine plan for their good and His glory.  

Prayer: Father, I pray that I may bear fruit to Your praise and glory. For You takes away all that is unfruitful and do such work in me that I may bear even more fruit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

(by Novella D. Carpenter)