John 15 is the Vine and the Branch passage.   When we remain connected to the vine, there is life.   When we choose to separate from the vine we die.    But check out this painful TRUTH!

John 15:  1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  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.

I personally like my limbs.   I prefer them to stay in tact.   BUT, apparently the creator of my life and the one who gives me life, knows better about my life than I do!

He has made me and wired me and gifted me and allowed me an experience.  He longs for me to leverage ALL of that for His honor and for His glory.   I concur!   I am all in!   I am all yours Lord!

The recognition of that is also a recognition of the truth that I must go under the knife!    He is going to have to cut some things out of my life so that new growth will be possible.

I get it!   This weekend I went to my beloved tomato plants and did some pruning of the ‘suckers.’   It was hard to cut them off.   They looked healthy, green and to the naked eye, one would never understand that they will bear no fruit, and in fact ‘suck’ away the nutrients and resources that would allow the ‘fruit bearing’ parts of the plant to bring forth what the creator knows is possible and what the recipient longs for….FRUIT!

Jesus, is cutting me up right now, and I think it hurts a bit.  BUT, I know the days of my future will be more fruitful as I remain in the Vine and allow Him the right to Prune me as He desires.