The Reward Of Pruning
Making Room For More Love
“Every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit…” John 15:2, AMP
When Growth Meets The Shears
The Father rewards growth with pruning, which isn’t quite the reward we had in mind!
We’d rather admire what’s growing and leave it there for everyone else to see.
Like a courting peacock, we can become fond of what looks impressive. But He prunes to reveal the beautiful, and He knows there is more to a branch than its leaves.
In The Vinedresser’s Hands
Our job isn’t to prune ourselves. That is no wiser than removing our own gallbladder!
The Father knows how, when, and what needs pruning; we get to learn the freedom of trusting His care.
He isn’t rejecting the growth. Jesus says the branch already bears fruit, and the Father is tending it so it will bear more.
Pruning Looks Forward
We look at the growth and see what He has done; pruning looks forward to what that growth can give. A leafy branch may look prettier today, but leaves aren’t the harvest.
The Father’s desire isn’t merely more growth to display, but more fruit to share.
Multiply Love
His call is “Be fruitful and multiply,” not “Multiply and be fruitful.”
The fruit of the Spirit is Love, and that is what we get to multiply.
As we yield to the Father, the Life of Jesus within us becomes patience with a child, mercy toward a friend, and kindness someone wasn’t expecting.
The reward of pruning is more Love to give away.
Reflection
What growth have I become reluctant to release?
Where am I trying to take the shears into my own hands?
Who might receive more of His Love through me?
Prayer
Abba Father, teach me to trust Your gentle hands. Let Your pruning bring forth more Love for the people sharing life with me. Amen.