.

TODAY’S WORD…

.

Jesus said,

“I am the true grapevine,

and my Father is the gardener.

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)

.

.

.

REFLECTION…

.

Christ explains that He Himself is the true vine,

and that to be fruitful

one must be joined to the new, true vine: to Him.

.

We must live the life of Christ,

listen to His teachings

and follow His commands

as we walk the life of grace

with Him who is the nourishment

which enables us to yield the fruit of eternal life.

.

We cannot bear this fruit

until we are grafted in with the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot receive God’s Spirit

until we receive His Son.

.

When I receive Christ as my Saviour,

I receive God’s Spirit,

and begin to bear the fruit

of love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness

and self-control. (Gal 5:22-23)

.

God, who so wants me to be saved,

must lovingly prune me.

It is a process, which can sometimes be painful,

but it is, in fact, strengthening me.

I cannot continue to bear fruit

without accepting to be pruned;

without trusting fully in God, my caring Gardener.

.

Those who have no or very little faith, understanding and trust in God,

see this pruning as an abhorrent process.

They do not accept it,

they stop bearing fruit,

and they sadly end up detached from the True Vine.

.

.

.

REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

.

O God of love, nurture me, prune me, abide in me, and enlighten me

.