Scripture for Today: John 15:2 “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.”

My beautiful blue flowers (Felicia Amelloides) lining the walk to the front door are being crowded out by their predecessors! What a long meticulous process it is to dead head them. But in making the effort, there can be new growth of that dainty blue flower. For awhile, the flowers look a bit sparse. But in no time at all the flowers will have room to blossom and fill in. You can clearly see where I stopped my work. I try to be careful but often I inadvertently snip off the healthy flowers or buds.

Today’s verse refers to the pruning of vines to produce more and better grapes. But the idea is the same; that old growth needs to be removed before new growth can happen. The one who does the pruning is God, our Vinedresser. As believers, we are branches connected to Jesus, our Vine, and that connection produces a fruitful God-honoring life. We are not to be content with the fruit He has already produced. His precise life-long pruning produces more fruit that is richer and more plentiful.

God wants to take away anything that holds me back from growing and bearing fruit. It could be a success or a failure. Am I so content with past good works for Him that I feel I don’t need to do more or do better? Or perhaps it is the guilt of that personal failure I keep hidden from view. Or maybe it is holding on to a behavior I know does not please Him. It all needs to be cut back to allow new fresh growth. It does not always feel so good. But God is continually at work in me, changing me to want to bear fruit for Him. (Phil. 2:13)

Thank you Lord, for what You produce in me.