The Vine and the Branches
“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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
I have often heard people say that this is a hard part of scripture to accept, yet I love it. The fact that we are all part of the same body is reassuring and life giving.
I read the verses about pruning as a way of acknowledging that I need pruning in my skills, activities and emotional hang ups. What a relief to know that we are pruned by God to become the strongest and most focused disciple we can be. We are blessed indeed.
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