My dad, who ran a pruning crew at one time in the Yakima Valley, explained the purpose of pruning a fruit tree. “If it is not pruned,” he said, “it will be full of branches and leaves with very little fruit.”

Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” (John 15:5) God the Father is the caretaker, the vinedresser. Branches that do not bear fruit He takes away. (John 15:2) Scary thought!!

A branch that is producing fruit, he prunes that it might bear more fruit. Ouch!!

Are we allowing his care to produce fruit in us? Or do we bristle at the pruning experiences?

Unlike grapevines that have no mind, we have minds, a will, a power of choice. A choice we make at work, at home, at the gas station, or while waiting in line at the grocery store. Do we let our natural self-dominate, or do we ignore ourselves and allow his life to be fruitful in us?

How many times do we listen to what we want rather than listen to the Holy Spirit? You know who is influencing us when we choose self, don’t you? Yep, the same one we read about in Genesis chapter 3. It is the same seductive voice luring us away from God, encouraging us to live our lives independent of God.

Heavenly Father, may we submit ourselves to your care, to your pruning shears. We want to be fruitful believers.