Welcome!
I want you to know that your visits and encouraging words have encouraged me. I could just see Jesus responding to everyone who was enlightened by yesterday’s devotion, “…Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
Now, today’s devotion will lead us yet further on in faith. It takes faith to see us through painful times. It takes faith to be convinced that God is not against us, nor punishing us, but He is working His good pleasure, which is for our good. It takes faith to not become embarrassed, discouraged or feel defeated. It takes faith in those times to rejoice and be exceeding glad.
It's so indicative of human nature to want to display how productive we are. We would like to be the branch with the biggest, brightest, best and most fruit hanging off of us. And it's also human nature that sees those very things as a strong indication of growth. That is nothing more than the carnal mind highly esteeming our worthless flesh. (John 6:63 – It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.)
But the Husbandman with a purpose at heart and pruning shears in hand begins to do a work that seems to cut us to our very hearts. He has ordained that we'd be fruitful, not a spectacle. It may appear to others that we're non-productive, but God is not interested in how we appear to the undiscerning eye. Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. He wisely, diligently and only considers the heart of the matter (which is all that really matters); the place from which are the issues of life.
So He cuts. He cuts away the fruit that the seed may be planted elsewhere in other lives and in other places. He cuts it away that it may be useful, bring life and reproduce even more fruit. It's still our fruit, but God gets the glory and we get the opportunity to expand our ministries and ministering in even greater capacities.
He also trims away the unnecessary and unwanted parts: dying leaves that would use our strength, drain our life and occupy space where more fruit could grow. He knows what He's doing and we know that all things work together for good. In the process of pruning that seems to reduce us to nothing, God is giving an increase.
John 15:
1 – I am the true Vine, and My Father is the husbandman.
2 – Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 – Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.
5 – I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.
6 – If a man abide not in Me, He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 – If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 – Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.
16 – Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.
There were three men with fruit trees,
But it was clear to see—
What they all had was similar,
But treated differently.
The first man had a fig tree,
That grew so tall and green;
Until from many miles away,
Its beauty could be seen.
But sadly all the branches
Were full of leaves and twigs;
And that tree was prevented
From growing any figs.
The next man’s tree had good fruit,
That he let no one touch;
He looked rich and successful,
Because it had so much.
His family was starving,
With fruit on every side;
Still, they all went malnourished;
And subsequently died.
The last man’s tree look puny,
Not fitting for display;
Because the fruit and dying stems
Were quickly cut away.
But it fulfilled its purpose,
It grew and multiplied;
It gave food for his household,
And then much more beside.
And from these three examples,
There is no need to bother—
To ask of you which of them proved
To be the wisest father.
Behold, He taketh away, who can hinder Him? who will say unto Him, What doest Thou? Job 9:12
Be wondrously encouraged!
Pam
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