KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Pruning
WE ALL KNOW and love the parable of Jesus called "The Vine and the Branches" ( John 15:1-8)...
Non-productive branches are removed; productive branches are pruned to make greater growth. Brethren, crestfallen, admit they are not growing. This probably means they are not pruning. We "tip-toe" in John 15 concerning the pruning. Pruning is difficult, yea painful. Some love the parable yet avoid it. Sin, bad habits, wrong decisions creep in. We know what needs to be done, but we will not do it. As persons and congregations, we must always be into "house cleaning." Churches that refuse to "clean house" keep crucifying preachers. Bad habits and bad attitudes destroy families. "Pet sin" damns Christians. Christianity demands persistant pruning! We so easily become set in our ways. We then hire preachers to tickle our ears (2 Tim. 4:2-4). All of this could be avoided by pruning. Stop it before it gets started. Be vigilant (1 Pet. 5:8)! Watch ( Mark 13:37)! Pruning requires change. We must change the way we think, feel, act. Pruning humbles. We have not arrived; we have a long way to go. Pruning demands starting all over. (Charles Hodge)
KneEmail: "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit" ( John 15:2).