While mowing my yard this weekend, I made the initial pass along the edge of my flower beds that wrap the corners of my house. As I turned the corner, I felt a sharp pain on my arm. I looked down to notice a rogue branch from one of my rosebushes had grabbed hold. Don’t worry; I survived. But I was immediately, painfully reminded that I need to prune the roses. After stepping back from my flowerbeds, I realized there were actually several branches that needed to be dealt with. And like a true Baptist pastor, I was immediately reminded of a gospel truth.
In John 15:1-2, Jesus says, “…my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” We first see God as a gardener at Creation when the Lord “planted a garden in Eden and there He put the man whom He had formed… to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:8, 15). Later in the Old Testament, the Lord also portrays Himself as the gardener and His people, Israel, as a choice vineyard. In John 15, we see two primary tasks of the gardener on display.
First, the gardener removes unfruitful branches. These branches are detrimental to other branches because they absorb nutrients but yield no return. They serve no purpose and should be cut off. The second task is to prune the branches that bear fruit. Pruning may seem similar to removal, but there are key differences. The purpose of pruning is to control direction and highlight beauty. My rose bush from earlier was growing in a direction that I do not want. Therefore, I prune it to cause it to grow where I want. Likewise, as the bush grows, I continue to prune to encourage greater beauty, and as I see unfruitful branches, I remove them.
Pruning is often a painful process. To be fruitful in this life requires sacrifice. The gardener removes and prunes branches so the plant can reach its full measure of beauty and fruitfulness. Perhaps you have been through, or are currently in, a season of pruning in your life, enduring the painful reality of seeing branches removed. Remember, our Father removes unfruitful branches completely, and He skillfully prunes others according to His purposes and His plans for His glory. We are simply commanded to abide in the True Vine, that is Christ, and trust in the skillful planning of the Gardener to fulfill His promises that all things work
together for the good of those who love the Lord.
As you marvel at the beauty of nature this summer, may it point you to the reality of our loving Father who is intimately aware of the details of your life. He wants you to grow in Him and bear fruit that glorifies His name and advances His Kingdom. Trust His plan!