by Prisca | 20 November 2018 08:46 pm11
John 15:1-7 (NIV)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
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.”
John 15:1-2
If you’ve ever been involved in farming or gardening, even in a small way, you probably understand the relationship between the vine, its branches, and the fruit it produces. A tree cannot bear fruit without a stem or trunk, and a trunk without branches cannot yield fruit either. Both the vine (Jesus) and the branches (believers) are essential for fruitfulness.
In this analogy, Jesus identifies Himself as the true vine, the Father as the gardener, and believers as the branches. The Father is not just a passive observer He is deeply invested in the health and productivity of His vineyard. He seeks fruit. Not appearances. Not mere association. But fruit.
Jesus said that every branch that bears fruit is pruned so that it may bear even more fruit (John 15:2).
To “prune” means to cut away anything unnecessary or harmful in order to promote better growth.
A skilled gardener knows that if a plant is left to grow wildly, it will produce many branches, but not necessarily healthy fruit. Some branches will take up nutrients and energy but produce nothing in return. So the gardener cuts off unfruitful or weak branches to redirect the plant’s strength to the branches that actually bear fruit.
Similarly, a coffee farmer, for example, will cut off the top shoot of a coffee plant so it doesn’t grow too tall and unproductive. He’ll also remove the sucker branches that grow close to the trunk but never bear fruit. Why? Because they waste nutrients that could otherwise support fruit bearing branches.
The goal of pruning is not punishment it’s productivity.
It’s not about removing people God dislikes, but about nurturing those who are fruitful, and ensuring that the grace of God is not wasted on spiritual complacency.
“If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
John 15:6 (NIV)
Jesus is very clear: those who do not bear fruit will be cut off from Him.
This may sound harsh, but it’s a consistent principle in the Bible: God invests His grace where there is spiritual return.
“For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance.
Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”
Matthew 25:29 (NIV)
This truth disturbed even a Muslim friend I once spoke to. He asked, “Why would Jesus take away from someone who has nothing?”
I explained: Jesus isn’t talking about material possessions He’s referring to spiritual fruit. If you have even a little spiritual fruit love, repentance, obedience God will add more. But if you remain barren, the grace you were given will be reassigned to someone else.
Many Christians start strong they pray, fast, seek God passionately but then they cool off. They stop praying. The desire for God dies.
Why?
Because they have been cut off from the Vine, or they’re on the verge of being cut off.
That initial grace that fueled your prayer life, worship, or hunger for the Word if it goes unused, it will be given to someone else.
You’ll see others who were once weaker than you begin to flourish in faith, while you wither away. That’s not coincidence it’s divine redistribution of grace.
The fruit that God desires isn’t church attendance, titles, or outward appearances. It is the fruit of the Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
God expects to find spiritual fruit in those who abide in Christ. These are the true indicators of a life rooted in Jesus.
If instead of love we produce hatred, instead of joy we produce bitterness, instead of peace we breed division, then our claim to be “in Christ” becomes false.
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance… The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Matthew 3:8-10 (NIV)
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Don’t assume that God’s love means He will never act in judgment. His love demands fruit, and where there is no fruit, there is removal. Even Jesus said:
“So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.”
Matthew 25:28 (NIV)
If you still feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit telling you to repent and turn from sin, don’t delay.
Many people no longer feel that conviction they’ve been cut off, and now the message of salvation sounds like foolishness to them. Don’t let that be your fate.
Are you living in sexual sin, drunkenness, worldly dressing, gossip, or spiritual laziness?
Then the Spirit of God is calling you to repent and become a fruitful branch once again.
Reject the lie that says: “I’ll repent later” that’s Satan’s voice!
Reject the watered down gospel that says: “God is love, so He won’t judge me.”
Yes, God is love, but He is also holy and just.
Today is the day of salvation. Come to Jesus, repent of your sins, and be baptized in His name.
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy spirit.”Acts 2:38 (NIV)
Don’t waste the grace given to you. Don’t be a dead branch.
Be a fruitful branch one that remains in the Vine.
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