The Gardener

Jesus, the True Vine  - John 15:1-8

15 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² 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. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

When I came home from work the other day I was shocked to see my beautiful rose bushes pruned back to about a foot tall.  Last summer these beautiful bushes stood five feet tall and were covered with brilliantly colored fragrant blossoms.  I would stop by each day to inhale the scent of each flower and admire the beauty of this creation.  I felt sad to see them cut back so far and worried that the plants were dead. 

I know from experience that pruning the rose bushes in this manner is necessary for the health and longevity of the bush.  Pruning encourages new growth and blooms, removes dead wood, improves air circulation to the plant and shapes the plant.  I also know that as the cold snap of winter passes in a few months, I will see the plant grow and new leaves will emerge and by summer there will be a new crop of roses, perhaps even more beautiful and intoxicating than the last.    

For us, God is the gardener and Jesus the true vine.  God is constantly pruning, not just in the dead of winter.  He removes the dead wood from our lives, the things that hold us back and can severe us from the vine of Jesus, such as bad habits and people that influence us in sinful ways. We may think that we are growing and coming along just fine, but our creator knows what is best for us and what we can become.  God, the artistic gardener prunes and shapes us, filling us daily with his love and new hope that nourishes us.  In time we will grow and blossom filled with His abundance.     

Dear God, 

Thank you for providing, your son, sweet Jesus as the vine that keeps us connected to you.  It hurts sometimes when you prune me, but I know that it is your way of getting my attention and putting me back on the right path, the path you set for me.  I know that it is your way of shaping and molding me for the plans you have for me in this life and that you prune me because you love me so much! I am truly grateful Father.  Prune away!  Amen 


I found this sweet video on youtube, only two minutes long, but worth the watch.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTyvkPpcv_k