Pruning

Three times in the last 10 days the following verse has come up in conversations. I think God is trying to get my attention.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. John 15:4 ESV

Speaking about abiding, Jesus references pruning. Pruning hurts. Yet pruning yields new growth; fruit grows. Do I welcome pruning? No. Do I want to be pruned? Yes, because I desperately want to grow in Christ and produce fruit. Could it be that the fruit of Christ-like character can grow only as Jesus prunes me through suffering, challenging times, and even gut-wrenching loss.

I suppose we could say that the grapevine surrenders to the one who tends them. So I must surrender to the Lord and offer myself up to be pruned.

Would you join me this week? It is not easy but is always for our good.

Sharing the journey with you,