When observing a gardener at work you will notice that there are certain parts of a plant that must be completely cut off and those that are merely pruned back in order to guarantee the survival of the entire plant. However, there is a difference between cutting and pruning. When pruning, only the dead portions of a particular section are cleaned away, while the other remains for further nutrients from the plant. Jesus uses the exact metaphor when explaining the importance of abiding in the Father through him. To abide literally means to accept or submit; to remain faithful to. This is what God requires of his children, regardless of the stage that we presently find ourselves in. We must be willing to be pruned in order to remain connected to the life source.
Jesus clearly states in John 15: 1- 4 that:
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He 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. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (NIV)
He explains to the reader that all fruit originates because of its connection to the vine. Be not deceived in thinking that anything that is good comes from any other source but “The Vine”(James 1:16-17). Therefore, on your journey towards success you must remain aware of your connection to “The Vine” because this is from where the constant source of nutrients (inspiration, knowledge, understanding etc) must flow in order for fruit to be produced. Nothing good happens without God, so stop following the world’s standard of referring to oneself as self-made--- there is no such thing! You were created from the earth in the image of God and regardless of what you believe this is FACT.
Moreover, the only way for you to be fruitful in a world where branches connected to alternative hosts are daily being plucked up and consumed by the furnace, is to remain connected to the Lord of Hosts! He is the ONLY WAY providing longevity in a world where people are on top one day and down the following. Furthermore, any branch (person) who attempts to initiate a temporary attachment to “The Vine” will be stripped as well. Because attaching a branch to a life source with tape (hanging on to God only when it’s convenient) can in no way be compared to those branches which have been grafted to “The Vine” permanently.
Make your choice today. Are you attached to “The Vine” for the long haul or are you willing to be fruitless in life only to be later thrown in the furnace at the end?
Jesus clearly states in John 15: 1- 4 that:
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He 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. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (NIV)
He explains to the reader that all fruit originates because of its connection to the vine. Be not deceived in thinking that anything that is good comes from any other source but “The Vine”(James 1:16-17). Therefore, on your journey towards success you must remain aware of your connection to “The Vine” because this is from where the constant source of nutrients (inspiration, knowledge, understanding etc) must flow in order for fruit to be produced. Nothing good happens without God, so stop following the world’s standard of referring to oneself as self-made--- there is no such thing! You were created from the earth in the image of God and regardless of what you believe this is FACT.
Moreover, the only way for you to be fruitful in a world where branches connected to alternative hosts are daily being plucked up and consumed by the furnace, is to remain connected to the Lord of Hosts! He is the ONLY WAY providing longevity in a world where people are on top one day and down the following. Furthermore, any branch (person) who attempts to initiate a temporary attachment to “The Vine” will be stripped as well. Because attaching a branch to a life source with tape (hanging on to God only when it’s convenient) can in no way be compared to those branches which have been grafted to “The Vine” permanently.
Make your choice today. Are you attached to “The Vine” for the long haul or are you willing to be fruitless in life only to be later thrown in the furnace at the end?
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