In the Hands of the Vinedresser

John 15:1 - 2

I am the true vine, and my father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Once we accept Jesus as Our Savior, we become benefactors of two of God's many promises.  Two of His promises that dramatically impact us daily are: 

1) the promise to perfect His strength in our weakness 2Cor 12:9

2) the promise to finish the good work that He starts in us when we call upon His Son as Our Savior. Phil 1:6

In order for God to fulfill these promises, we must come under a continual process of pruning.  Because of our sin nature which will not depart us until we die, this pruning process will never stop while we are alive on earth.  

Jesus is the Vine.  We are the branches, all nourished by the same True Vine.   Our Heavenly Father is the vinedresser.  The will of the Father is to have the vineyard produce bountiful fruit, so He prunes us (the branches) each according to our fruitfulness.  The more we abide in the Vine, the more fruit we will produce.  The more fruit we produce, the more we abound in what is good and the more the Vine and the Vinedresser are glorified.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your tender loving care as You transform us from sinners into saints.  We bless the name of Jesus for His sacrifice on the Cross that makes this transformation possible.  We delight in the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives who stands by us as we turn away from our old lives and live anew in the fullness of the Vine.  We pray that we will respond to the Holy Spirit as He always turns us to the Vine for our nourishment and never to the world.  Father, we claim Your promise to perfect Your strength in our weakness.  May our fruit be bountiful and may it be pleasing to You.  We rejoice in knowing that You will see the harvest to completion for Your glory.