Pruning

Yard work has never been a favorite for me. Mowing the grass, trimming the bushes, and thinning the branches isn't my idea of a good time. I suppose that is why it is called "work." Work doesn't have to be fun. It is often anything but glamorous. You sweat, get dirty, skin your knuckles, generally become exhausted from using muscles you forgot you had. We have quite a number of trees on our property. It seems we are constantly needing to cut back the limbs so the trees don't overrun the place as well as keeping them thinned out so they will be healthy.

As I was working on the yard tonight (I love the long hours of daylight) I sensed what Jesus was talking about when he told his disciples that He was the vine and they were the branches. The wonderful truth is that we abide in him. When we do, we will produce fruit. The tough part is that he always cuts back the branches. He prunes us so we can be healthier and be more productive for the kingdom. Dead branches he cuts back to eliminate unproductive branches. Fruitful branches he cuts back (prunes) so they will be even more productive.

At times we are tempted to complain when we experience his pruning. How much better to recognize our difficulties as opportunities to become even more productive for Christ. One of our couples in ministry have gone through some difficult times as of late. They were reading the passage that states "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." She said, it says "In everything" not "for everything." So true!

We may not enjoy the challenges we face, but we can accept the pruning we experience as God's work in our lives that will result in giving him glory and honor by "rejoicing in the Lord always." We are not required to like the pruning, but we can rejoice in the midst of it because we know He "works all things together" for our good.