Pruning
I noticed a tiny tomato plant in our vegetable
garden just before the first frost in November. I decided to bring it inside
for the winter, putting it in the spare bedroom where it could get morning sun.
I haven’t been pruning it (my bad) so it has now grown to the ceiling without
producing any fruit yet. In contrast, our ancient pepper plant that we were
ready to toss out was accidentally pruned two weeks ago (don’t ask) and has
since developed multiple blooms, one of which is already forming a pepper.
I took these horticultural events as God’s way of
telling me why I need to be pruned from time to time. It’s easy to get into a
comfortable pattern where you are busy with your various activities, feeling
like you’re growing and being productive, not realizing that there is more to
be done.
Pruning isn’t a sign that you’re doing anything
wrong, nor is it a punishment. Jesus tells us, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He
cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does
bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2).
God prunes back anything that hinders our relationship with Him. His pruning
cuts away the unproductive areas in our life and forms us into the image He has
for us.
Pruning can be an
ongoing process or there may be certain times when God seems very active in our
lives. He may work on our jobs, finances, relationships, unhealed memories or
injuries, attitudes, activities, distractions, or anything else that is drawing
us away from Him. He may convict us of a particular sin or habit.
We can ask to be
pruned. We may want help in making changes in our lives that are difficult but
needed. We may be carrying something around that we know isn’t good for us but
we can’t get rid of, that acts like a disease of our spirit. God can prune away
the diseased areas in our life and make us healthy and whole again.
Being pruned back,
even lovingly, can be a painful process. As the author of Hebrews notes, “God disciplines us for our good, in order that
we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time,
but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and
peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11-12). It is an act
of faith to surrender to the will of the Father, believing that it is for our
good, trusting in Him to shape us more into the image of His Son.
May we all be open to
the Father’s loving hand.
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The individual posts in this blog have
been collected into a book, Reflections From the Basic Truths Blog. It
is available for free as an E-book through Barnes and Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-from-the-basic-truths-blog-james-yarmchuk/1147055811?ean=2940181202702, Apple Books, and multiple other book websites. It is available
for a minimal charge on Amazon and can also be purchased as a paperback through
them.
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