By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

So I May Be More Fruitful…

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“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 15:2 New International Version

Grapes are tremendously prolific.  Every spring they produce huge amounts of vines and if left unpruned, the fruit on them will be small or even nonexistent.  The only way to remedy this, to produce branches that will bear abundant fruit, is to prune, and prune well!

Jesus explains that He is our Vine and we are His branches.  If we are to bear abundant fruit, the Father must do some pruning in our lives.  What kind of fruit is He aiming for?  Two kinds of fruit, the fruit of the Spirit such as love, joy and peace, and the fruit of more followers coming to Jesus through our witness.

Perhaps this sounds like great fruit to you, but the pruning sounds harsh, and often the pruning from the loving Father does seem harsh.  For the Lord uses His Word and circumstances to correct, rebuke, and discipline us, cutting off dead branches in us.  He uses grief and the consequences of our sin as ways of cutting us back to what is truly fruitful and life giving and abundant.  This process can involve many difficult people and circumstances.  We can become discouraged and disenchanted with the whole process.

Do not be discouraged!  For we have a good Gardener, a loving Father.  He will only do what is necessary and good for us.  It may not seem that way at the moment, but God will use the pruning to make us even more fruitful in character and the spreading of His kingdom.

Lord, I confess that I have many dead and weak branches.  I accept your loving pruning, even when I do not understand your whole plan.  Keep me close to you and may your will be done.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado.