“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he pruneth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”   John 15:1-2

In the front of my home is a rose bush that I planted when I first moved in. The interesting thing about my rose bush is the upkeep. Every summer when it is really flourishing- I have to always take a closer look.  As lovely as the roses look there are some brown places on the branches that the nutrients are not reaching.

The brown places are dead places that need to be removed because without their removal- the productivity of the rose flourishing is stunted.  These are the things that have to be pruned in order for growth to continue. I learned the brown places on the branches are where there is a disconnect from the vine which is supplying nutrients to the branches. Once I have pruned the “dead places” I notice in a few days the branch is green again and the roses are vibrantly multiplied.  You see the pruning is not the same as the cutting. Pruning is to cut back so that more growth can produce but something  being cut it so it can be removed permanently.

The pruning process is just that a process that is required to grow continuously. Some look at this word in a negative manner but the truth is -pruning is necessary for increase.  It is so amazing how the Lord prunes us at times to cut off some of the temporary to see the permanent. What do I mean? In order to see the permanent fruit we have to move temporary conditions – we must be willing to see those things as just that temporary.  There must be action to receive the permanent – the action the Lord takes is the pruning- we must be willing to allow the process to take place.

In order to receive the permanent we must be able to endure the process of the temporary. Prune the dead weight to receive the full blessings of the Lord.

Be blessed!