“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…. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:2, 6)
On one edge of our yard, we have two forsythia bushes that delight the eyes in spring. Forsythia have long, bending branches that flame forth with bright yellow blooms at spring’s peak. They are a welcome sign of new life as winter fades. But I have figured out that forsythia bushes can get out of control, growing at such a pace that they thicken into a chaotic and dense micro-forest hindering the bloom’s beauty. Pruning is the key. But that pruning is best done earlier than I usually think it should be, shortly after the flowering in mid-spring. Because next year’s flowers bloom on the previous year’s growth, the brilliance of the bush is determined by timely and accurate pruning.
Our life with God is somewhat like that. We are made by God for a beautiful and brilliant life, but various things that can hinder such goodness from emerging. Pruning is required to keep us from becoming a chaotic, dense mess. We need God’s gracious hand to highlight areas that should be cut back for greater fruitfulness. Sometimes that means God names sin we need to repent of so that God can bring fruitfulness in us. At times God calls us to let go of certain relationships and activities keeping us from obedience. Sometimes God invites us to do fewer good things so we can pursue God’s greatest calling in a focused way. There are many ways God’s pruning is necessary in our lives.
But this is important to keep in mind: God’s pruning is always for our good. On the one hand, it prevents destructive forces from grabbing ahold of our lives (see Psalm 1:4 and John 15:6). On the other hand, God’s pruning enables the good life, the full life with God, to emerge in us so we live abundantly and our lives can nourish others. Let us consider what God may want to prune in us during this season of Lent.
For reflection:
- Each Sunday we include discussion questions on the sermon insert that can be used for deeper reflection and/or small group discussions. Take time to read through those questions today. You can find a digital version online at eastbrook.org/TreeandVine.
by Pastor Matt Erickson
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