John 15:2

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 ~ John 15:2

Ouch! It hurts to be pruned! Every branch, or, every person, who does not belong to Jesus with the fullness of their heart will be cut away from Him. If they cannot bring about a living unity with His Spirit, they do not belong on the vine taking nourishment but eventually leaving only a tangled mess of dead wood. Their lot is to be burned. But the branches which do bear fruit, they have a different ending. The Spirit of God will tend to them in a beneficial way, not cutting off what is green and good, but cutting away that which prevents an even greater bounty of fruit. You see, sometimes our vices get ahold of us, though we do not desire so. Vanity, and the god of self-righteousness, pride and envy too, may take a hold on our spirit and set us up against one another. At other times it is our disobedience which causes us to be out of step with our Lord's will. So, we are disciplined and the Lord severs from us that which is not glorifying to Him. Not all tribulation is the cutting away of our deadness, but when we are undergoing hard times it is beneficial to assess if there is something we need to let go of as it may be impeding our relationship with God. It is far easier to help Him cut what needs to be cut away, than to fight against Him.
Devotion by Pastor Julia

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