A vine without branches does not produce fruit; neither does a branch produce a harvest without a vine! This is the backdrop Jesus used in John 15:1-8 to teach His disciples about their relationship with Him. In verses 5, 8 He makes it very clear, “I am the vine, you are the branches…By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit”. Yes, it’s all about fruit bearing! In verse 2 He said “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He (the Father) takes away:” This may take on various forms and may include exposure, separation, and possibly removal! But then He continues “and every branch in Me that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” It is a known fact in horticulture that proper pruning produces better, bigger harvests; so the Father begins the process of pruning our lives, purging us from those works of the flesh that inhibit our maturing and fruitfulness, “whom the Lord loves He corrects” Proverbs 3:12; c.f. Hebrews 12:5-11. Through the Holy Spirit and His word, He teaches us, reproves us, corrects us, and instructs us, equipping us for every good work according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What kind of fruit is the Father looking for? In Matthew 3:7-10 John cried out “…Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…” This is not just a patch of religious activity, rather it is a changed life, it is living a God fearing and holy life and lifestyle, it is a Christ-like life flowing out from within, it is a life that becomes laden with the fruit of the Holy Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23; it is this kind of life that becomes a shining light of witness pleasing to the Father and drawing others to Jesus! But the pruning process is necessary to remove the carnal works of the flesh, and in their place produce “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” Hebrews 12:11.
The fruitful branch
By Rose Hill
Fruit bearing is what it’s all about,
A branch with no fruit the vinedresser throws out!
But the one who begins much fruit to bear,
He is pleased to let it growing there.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.