“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.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 15:1-2 NIV
A long time ago Adam and Eve sinned in the beautiful garden that God had given to them. As a result, when God came looking for them they hid and experienced a new emotion, fear. Genesis 3:8 It was their sin that caused that fear. After all, the Bible tells us, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,” 1 John 4:18a NIV
Satan tempted Adam and Eve with the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I have come to realize that my life is not so different from Adam and Eve’s. I still face temptations from Satan. When I succumb to the temptation I then experience the fear of facing God with my sin. But I need not fear because Jesus is my Savior and I am safe because Jesus’ blood covers my past sin, my present sin and my future sin. Because God loves the Son, he accepts Jesus’ sacrifice for my sin as payment for my sin. He loves me for the sake of the Son. Jesus’ love for me is perfect. It will drive out any fear I may have if I put my trust in him.
So why then do I at times fear the garden? It is because I am in need of correction. I need to have sinful branches that bear no fruit cut off. I need the pruning of the gardener in my life so that my life will be able to produce even more fruit. The pruning shears of the Master Gardner scare me because I fear the pruning process will be painful even though I know the Gardener will use the shears in love.
So today I am slowly shuffling my way to the garden. As I walk toward the garden I am rebuking myself because I have fallen into some sinful behavior. If there are flowers blooming as I enter the garden I do not see them. I am wearing the hat of submission but I am also wearing the coat of dread! I feel a bit like Adam and Eve, ashamed. What I really want to do is hide. I too hear the Master walking in the garden and I know without a doubt that he will be carrying his pruning shears!
As a believer there are some things that I really hate! I hate the things people do that bring out the worst in me. I hate when I have a bad attitude and end up needing to have my attitude hacked off the vine. I hate when I have spoken inappropriate words that hurt others. I hate when I try to carry my own burdens and fix my own problems. I hate when I have embraced a spirit of fear. I hate when I argue with God and fight being obedient. I hate the process of working through my sinful behavior! But most of all I hate that as a believer I must hold myself accountable to Jesus. I hate when I allow something to happen in my life that casts a shadow on my relationship with Jesus. I hate when I realize that I am in need of a painful trip to the garden to get my sinful behavior pruned and forgiven. I know deep down in my heart that there is no other way.
So why then do I at times fear the garden? It is because I am in need of correction. I need to have sinful branches that bear no fruit cut off. I need the pruning of the gardener in my life so that my life will be able to produce even more fruit. The pruning shears of the Master Gardner scare me because I fear the pruning process will be painful even though I know the Gardener will use the shears in love.
So today I am slowly shuffling my way to the garden. As I walk toward the garden I am rebuking myself because I have fallen into some sinful behavior. If there are flowers blooming as I enter the garden I do not see them. I am wearing the hat of submission but I am also wearing the coat of dread! I feel a bit like Adam and Eve, ashamed. What I really want to do is hide. I too hear the Master walking in the garden and I know without a doubt that he will be carrying his pruning shears!
As a believer there are some things that I really hate! I hate the things people do that bring out the worst in me. I hate when I have a bad attitude and end up needing to have my attitude hacked off the vine. I hate when I have spoken inappropriate words that hurt others. I hate when I try to carry my own burdens and fix my own problems. I hate when I have embraced a spirit of fear. I hate when I argue with God and fight being obedient. I hate the process of working through my sinful behavior! But most of all I hate that as a believer I must hold myself accountable to Jesus. I hate when I allow something to happen in my life that casts a shadow on my relationship with Jesus. I hate when I realize that I am in need of a painful trip to the garden to get my sinful behavior pruned and forgiven. I know deep down in my heart that there is no other way.
I know from past experience that it is absolutely necessary for me to reach the point where I can wave the white flag of surrender and submit to the pruning shears in order to restore fellowship in the garden between myself and my Savior. Pruning is necessary so that I will walk in a loving relationship with my Lord and bare fruit that will bring him glory.
Still it is my nature to try to avoid pain, admit guilt, confess my sin, and ask for forgiveness. Much to my chagrin I usually nurse the conflict that is raging within me, consequently causing the situation to become a very long and drawn out process before I can head for the garden, meet up with the Vinedresser, and bow to his shears. I have traveled this road many times before and I know all too well where it must end! Why does it take me so long to release my anger, admit my fear, confess my sinful behavior, and seek his loving forgiveness? Why do I want anything less than the Vinedresser's approval and my inner peace?
What I love is that Jesus holds me tight and never lets me go! I love that he keeps calling me to the garden! I love his faithfulness to me even when I am unfaithful! So here I am in the garden and now I hear the Master Gardner speaking reassuring words of comfort to me. I know this pruning procedure will change my self-centered character and as a result I will become more like Jesus. I now begin to cry tears of joy knowing that I am exactly where I need to be. I know that when the Master Gardener is finished with me I will be one more step closer to looking like him. Because of God’s amazing love for me I know that my life will flourish with his grace because of this pruning. Oh! Without a doubt, pruning is not to be dreaded and despised. Pruning is to be seen as God’s love gift to me!
As I leave the garden it is my desire to be a person of godly influence. For this day the work of the Gardner is finished; my pain has turned to joy. My fear has turned to peace. That which was not good has been forgiven, cut off and tossed into the fire. I am blessed. I am at peace. The vision of all he wants me to be for his kingdom has been cast by the Master. Somehow by the grace of God I now feel cleaner and stronger, and I walk a little taller. My eyes look upward; there is a lilt in my step, a smile on my face, and praise on my lips and gratitude in my heart!
I begin the walk back toward the house and as I walk I am asking myself a few questions. Paula, why do you wait so long to seek out the Gardner? Why do you put yourself through all of that prolonged misery? Paula, the next time you feel God’s rebuke why don’t you just run to the garden and bypass the painful struggling? I remember the last thing that Jesus said to me when I was leaving the garden. He reminded me that running to him immediately, is a mark of Christian growth and maturity. Oh how I desire to be in that place!
Questions:
Have you ever feared the garden?
Still it is my nature to try to avoid pain, admit guilt, confess my sin, and ask for forgiveness. Much to my chagrin I usually nurse the conflict that is raging within me, consequently causing the situation to become a very long and drawn out process before I can head for the garden, meet up with the Vinedresser, and bow to his shears. I have traveled this road many times before and I know all too well where it must end! Why does it take me so long to release my anger, admit my fear, confess my sinful behavior, and seek his loving forgiveness? Why do I want anything less than the Vinedresser's approval and my inner peace?
What I love is that Jesus holds me tight and never lets me go! I love that he keeps calling me to the garden! I love his faithfulness to me even when I am unfaithful! So here I am in the garden and now I hear the Master Gardner speaking reassuring words of comfort to me. I know this pruning procedure will change my self-centered character and as a result I will become more like Jesus. I now begin to cry tears of joy knowing that I am exactly where I need to be. I know that when the Master Gardener is finished with me I will be one more step closer to looking like him. Because of God’s amazing love for me I know that my life will flourish with his grace because of this pruning. Oh! Without a doubt, pruning is not to be dreaded and despised. Pruning is to be seen as God’s love gift to me!
As I leave the garden it is my desire to be a person of godly influence. For this day the work of the Gardner is finished; my pain has turned to joy. My fear has turned to peace. That which was not good has been forgiven, cut off and tossed into the fire. I am blessed. I am at peace. The vision of all he wants me to be for his kingdom has been cast by the Master. Somehow by the grace of God I now feel cleaner and stronger, and I walk a little taller. My eyes look upward; there is a lilt in my step, a smile on my face, and praise on my lips and gratitude in my heart!
I begin the walk back toward the house and as I walk I am asking myself a few questions. Paula, why do you wait so long to seek out the Gardner? Why do you put yourself through all of that prolonged misery? Paula, the next time you feel God’s rebuke why don’t you just run to the garden and bypass the painful struggling? I remember the last thing that Jesus said to me when I was leaving the garden. He reminded me that running to him immediately, is a mark of Christian growth and maturity. Oh how I desire to be in that place!
Questions:
Have you ever feared the garden?
When was the last time God pruned your life?
What were the results of his pruning?
Are you currently in need of God’s pruning shears?
Are you making plans to run to or from the garden?
Can you see that God’s pruning is his gift of love to you?
Prayer:
Dear God,
I am getting tired of fighting you. Next time I want to go straight to surrender. After all, perfect love cast out fear. There is no need to fear the garden. Help me God to remember that all you do in my life is for my eternal good. I thank you God that you love me enough to whisper your words of conviction to my heart. I am blessed that your love wants to make something beautiful out of my life. I am so glad that you think that I am worth the effort. I am so thankful that you don’t want to allow the ugly branches of sinful behavior to grow out of control and remain in my life. I know the pruning you do in my life is your way of equipping me to serve you and others more effectively. I know that the more I love you, the less I will fear correction, and the more I will trust and obey you, and the quicker I will run to the garden. Prune me Lord, so that others will look at me and see your Son, Jesus Christ.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I am getting tired of fighting you. Next time I want to go straight to surrender. After all, perfect love cast out fear. There is no need to fear the garden. Help me God to remember that all you do in my life is for my eternal good. I thank you God that you love me enough to whisper your words of conviction to my heart. I am blessed that your love wants to make something beautiful out of my life. I am so glad that you think that I am worth the effort. I am so thankful that you don’t want to allow the ugly branches of sinful behavior to grow out of control and remain in my life. I know the pruning you do in my life is your way of equipping me to serve you and others more effectively. I know that the more I love you, the less I will fear correction, and the more I will trust and obey you, and the quicker I will run to the garden. Prune me Lord, so that others will look at me and see your Son, Jesus Christ.
It is in your Son’s name I pray. Amen.
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