How is the Pruning Coming Along?

A vinedresser prunes his fruitful grapevines so that they can remain healthy and continue to be fruitful. He uses hand shears, lopping shears, and even saws in some cases.

The Word of God tells us that our Heavenly Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine, and we are the fruit bearing branches of the vine.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 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. (Joh 15:1-2)

If you are a child of God you will produce fruit, and if you produce fruit you will be pruned so that you can continue to bear fruit.

Jesus taught a parable about how the Word of God, like seed, is sown, or distributed. It doesn't really take root in some people, but it does in others.

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Mat 13:18-23)

God expects grapevines to produce grapes, and God expects Christians to be Christ-like. In fact, I like the term Christ-follower better than I like the term Christian, because the former implies that an effort to be Christ-like is taking place, whereas the latter can simply refer to one's professed religion, or religious faith.

The Word of God tells us that faith without works is dead, and that branches without fruit are dead. The name "Christian" is meaningless and valueless unless the person with the label is bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We expect plants that we purchase to bear the fruit that's on the label, and God expects to see the fruit that's on our label.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)

Be fruitful, and multiply :)
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.