Aug 13: Will God Cut You or Prune You?

Readings: Jeremiah 13,14,15; John 15 

Scripture: John 15:1-9 NLT

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.”

Observation:

God’s clippers are coming for you––but you get to choose why. 

In the book of John, Jesus says 7 “I Am” statements to teach us who He is and what His relationship is to us. In John 15, Jesus compares us and Him as branches are to a vine. “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more” (John 15:1-2 NLT). Notice how Jesus mentions the actions of “cutting off” and “pruning.” Both involve God’s clippers. But each is done for a vastly different purpose.

In gardening, cutting off branches is the general process of removing something because of unhealth or weakness. The reason something is cut off is because it is not bearing fruit, being a nuisance, or threatening the health of the rest of the plant. This is why that which is cut off “is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned” (John 15:6 NLT). Branches that are cut off are useless, lifeless, and have no ability to bear more fruit.

On the other hand, pruning is the intentional process of removing select branches for the sake of future health and long-term strength. As a gardener prunes a plant, clippers are still involved. However, the cuts he makes are done carefully and selectively to help remove its weaknesses so that it can grow back stronger. Cutting off is done with the intention of ending life; pruning is done to promote life. Both involve the painful removal of unhealthy parts, but only one is done with the intention to make it stronger.

Application:

God is the gardener, Jesus is the vine, and you are a branch. Will you be a branch that gets cut off or pruned intentionally?

God’s desire for you is to be pruned. He wants you to remain connected to Him. This is why He says “Remain in me, and I will remain in you…I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love” (John 15:4, 9 NLT). And Jesus doesn’t just instruct us to remain in Him, He issues a promise to us: “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit” (John 15:5 NLT). Remaining is not a one-way relationship; it’s a two-way street. As we remain in Him, He remains in us. As we connect ourselves to Him, He promises to connect Himself with us. 

God wants you to remain in Him. He is a good, good Father. And like any good father should, He does not want to be disconnected from His child; He wants to remain deeply and intimately connected with you. As 2 Peter 3:9 NIV says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God does not want anyone to be cut off; His will is that none shall perish. He allows people to be cut off not because He hates them, but rather because He loves them. God does not “cut people off”––we send ourselves there as the result of our unwillingness to remain in Him. And for the sake of the health of the whole plant––Jesus the vine, and the interconnected branches of every believer connected to Him––He must cut you off for the sake of the whole if you refuse to choose health yourself.

Remain in God. Don’t force His hand to cut you off. Remain connected to Him and allow the Gardener to prune you. Let Him take off the things you were never meant to live with––your pride, your hurts, your burdens––so that you can grow stronger and bear fruit for the future. God’s clippers are coming for you. But whether you get cut off or pruned off is completely up to you. Choose wisely.

Prayer:

God,

You are the Gardener. I am but a branch. Thank You, Jesus, for allowing me to remain connected to You and to bear fruit through You. Thank You for choosing to be connected to me and for the privilege of getting to be loved by You. Prune me for Your glory, shape me towards Your image, and allow me to bear fruit for the sake of Your Kingdom. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen