Me:  Look at those branches!

Prodigal:  I know, they are seem to be growing together.

Me:  Yes, they do, someone has taken care of that tree.

 

This is from the book  Longing for More of Jesus:  My Heart’s Cry by Anne Graham Lotz

 

Fruit is only borne in abundance on tender, fairly new growth.  As the wood of a branch gets older, it tends to get harder.  So even though a branch is living and is connected to the vine, it can become barren.  Still leaving the branch connected to the vine, the gardener cuts back the old, hard wood, forcing it into new growth that will produce fruit instead of just more wood and leaves.  In fact, there are times when he cuts branch back so drastically all that is left of it is the connection to the vine.

Jesus described this drastic pruning in a believer’s life when He explained that the Gardener “cuts off every branch in me that bears o fruit” (15:2).  There are times when God cuts everything out of our lives except our relationship with Jesus.  He forces us to pay attention to our relationship with Him because that’s all we have.  And in the process, our “connection” to the Vine is enlarged and fruit is produced.

 

We may be a little fruity, but God planned that to be a good thing!

 

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.  Jeremiah 3:15

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org