Get Out the Pruning Shears

Today's Reading: John 15:1-17

There's been a lot of pruning going on around here lately. Several crews have trimmed trees and shrubs here at PR and over at Lansdowne. Bushes have been pulled up. Trees cut down. And it all just looks so fresh and clean.

As I understand it, the purpose of pruning is to make room for plants to grow better - to bear more fruit, to borrow a phrase from today's reading.

You know, we have to go through pruning at times too. God has a plan for us and sometimes we have allowed things to creep into our lives that may block that plan. And so God has to get out the pruning shears.

But it doesn't have to be something bad to need pruning. Maybe something has been in our life for a while but its season is over. Maybe it's a good thing, but God wants something better for us. And so out come the pruning shears again.

Either way, pruning can be hard. Those guys and gals who worked out in the heat last week at Curb Appeal Day can tell you how hot and tiring and dirty that work can be. But without it, bushes and trees just become a big tangled mess. And the good things begin to get choked out.

Without God's loving pruning, good things can get choked out of our lives too. But as we remain in Him and allow His pruning to shape us, we "will be even more fruitful" (verse 2). 

There's a lot to learn from this story. But today, let's just focus on where God may be pruning us and whether or not we are cooperating with Him. It'll probably go a whole lot easier if we do!

- Holly Barrett