We are made to grow and to become more and more like
Jesus. God made us with a purpose, and
the things that God does in our lives will prepare us for better days and give
us the ability to make a bigger difference for His kingdom and His good.
It is John 15 that describes that process in a good way. Read on:
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.
God prunes us so we can bear more fruit. The process of being pruned isn’t easy and
sometimes hurts. What God does in our
lives is always to bring us closer to Him and to make us more like Jesus. Pruning is an important part of the process,
and it is important to understand that pruning and punishment are not the same
thing. Pruning comes when we are seeking
and serving God. Punishment comes when
we are moving away from or being disobedient to God.
One vital part of growing is staying close to the
Father. The safest place is being close
to the Father. To know the Father and
the son we have to spend time with them.
Intimacy comes when we spend time with someone, and time with God
radically changes our lives.
It is impossible to bear fruit when we are not connected to
the Father. Literally we cannot do
anything away from the Father. Far too
many Christians think that going to church on Sunday alone or a few times a
month is enough to keep the blessings going or to keep God happy. That is not the truth. Staying connected to God isn’t easy, but it
will bring us peace and clarify our purpose!
Much fruit comes to the person who stays connected and loves
to be connected to God. How you define
much fruit is a big deal. Being
connected to the Father brings fruit, and not every person will produce the
same amount of fruit. But we will
produce fruit. Fruit proves that we are
connected to and following God.
Fruit gives God all the glory. That is the point. Our fruit points people to God and allows us,
and those around us, to see God clearly.
Bearing fruit reminds us that life is really all about God. God made us and has a purpose for our
lives. Stay connected to Him and give
Him glory. Stay connected to God and
bear more fruit. Stay connected to God
and watch how God works the small and the big things work in incredible ways that
all point to Him.
God is preparing us for more by working in our lives. And I want more of that. How about you?
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