The True Vine

This is a branch that Allen pruned a couple of weeks ago. I happened to see it about a week ago and thought to myself, "Wow! The leaves that are coming back are so full and lush and it happened so fast!"

Now, most days I would have just thought about it for 2 seconds and then been off to the next thing, but lately the Lord is showing me how to enjoy the little things and to see Him in everything, not just the things that are glaringly obvious or detrimental.

I was reminded of John 15.

1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I am thankful that we are pruned so that we can bear MORE fruit, not just so that we will be tidy and clean, but because He has better for us in store. He says in the verse that we are already clean if we are believers, so that's not the purpose, but that we bring Him MORE glory by producing MORE fruit. At the time of pruning it might seem awful, like we are losing something that is SO ingrained in us, but then the spring comes and our fruit flourishes more than before because... YES, He knows what He's doing!

Lord, help me to treasure the pruning because I know the end result. Help me to be thankful that you are investing time in me because you see the potential for more ahead.