Psalm 22:26 says “Those afflicted shall eat and be satisfied.” I believe this is a reference to the sacrament of Holy Communion. We are all afflicted at times; family, job loss, confusion, spiritual attack, etc.

But, John 15 also says that the good Gardner, Jesus, prunes those He loves, His disciples, you and me. Because He loves us and is a fruit inspector, He prunes, cuts, and shaves off corners of our lives in order to bear more fruit. In our Acts reading for this Sunday, Paul’s boldness is a result of some pretty severe pruning. Knocked off his horse, blinded by the Light, humbled and healed, he is now preaching so boldly he is being hunted by enemies of the gospel. He has to escape Jerusalem for safety and, no doubt, more pruning.

In other words, pruning implies pain and hurt for a greater gain. We do this in gym training, parenting, confessing, doctor’s orders, and any number of other activities.

“…apart from me you can do nothing.” ( v 5 ). We need His pruning because we can’t grow without it. Children can’t grow up without pruning. In some seasons there is more than in others. If your relationship with Jesus is vital and not formal only, you and I will be blessed by this. Areas of pruning can be :

less activity and more prayer

less anxiety and more trust

less anger and more understanding

less fear and more courage

less insecurity and more identity in Christ

less hoarding and more generosity

The more a plant is pruned, the more it draws on the stem. Jesus is the stem. We need more of Him and trust when the cutting takes place.

To put it bluntly, as Tim Keller says, “there has been nothing cut off that was not a gain to lose and would have been a loss to keep.” Abide in Him, receive the sacraments, grow in grace, say every day, “Come Holy Spirit.”

Come and See.

+Philip