DEVOTION – DAY 323

John 15:1-2 “Pruning By God”

John 15:1-2 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.

Many people wonder why God allows trials and problems to come into their lives. Many people hate such disruptions in their lives preferring that their lives should run smoothly. But John 15:1-17 reminds us that Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches of the vines. In order for branches to be fruitful, the gardener must prune the branches from time to time. In the same way, God, the Father is the gardener, and He allows trials and challenges in our lives – these are His pruning activities. It is times like these that we draw close to Him. It is times like these that we learn to depend on Him. And He will help us through these times of difficulties in our lives. It is during such times when we become more spiritually close to God. If life were to be smooth all the time, many people will become complacent and be lukewarm in their relationship with God. They would be relying more on themselves than on God. When that happens, they would be spiritually unfruitful.

 

We know someone who tripped and fractured her toe. She needed her foot be in a cast. She had to learn to walk on crutches as the fracture healed slowly. She had to learn to adapt her lifestyle and depend on the help of others to do tasks that she used to do by herself. When she tripped, she asked God why He allowed the accident to happen. Then, she was reminded about these verses and she realized the fracture of her toe was an opportunity for her to rely upon God and on others. It was also an opportunity for her see how God would still enable her to be fruitful in serving Him despite her foot being in a cast and she had to walk around on crutches. It was an opportunity for her to testify to His goodness despite her temporary disability. Looking back, the fracture was not a pleasant experience. God’s pruning is never a pleasant experience. But she admitted that she had learnt many spiritual lessons from the experience, that she would not have learnt otherwise.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing trials and challenges in our lives to help us draw closer to you and experience your love more deeply. Help us to always welcome such times of “pruning” by you and for your glory. We pray this in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. How have you personally benefited from some problems and trials that God allowed to come into your life? Share.
  2. How has these experiences caused you to draw closer to God?
  3. There are people in your lives that question God’s goodness because of the problems they see around them. How can you help them see that these problems are opportunities for them to turn to God?