Pruning and Fruit Bearing - Part 20

So, what is it that produces "more fruit"?  And  who is it that produces "more fruit"?  The pruning or purging process is intended to do one thing: draw us into a closer relationship to God, that we might be a more efficient vehicle through which the fruit is revealed--that's the purpose.

The thing we need to settle, then, is who does this pruning, and how does the pruning process really take place?

Notice the following quotation that speaks of our possible union with Christ, which in the parable is described as the relationship between the branch and the Vine.

"A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish.  Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first, and last, and best in everything. But this union costs us something.  It is a relation of utter dependence, to be entered into by a proud being."

We have to stop right here.  "It is a relationship of utter dependene, to be entered into by a proud being."  How is pride affected?  We are proud!  We all have proud, egocentric natures, and the only way we can be free from this pride is to recognize the purpose of the braanch.  There is only one source of strength for the branch.  What is that source?  The Vine.  The Vine is our Source of strength, our only Source of strength.  But do we look to the Source?  No!  We look everywhere else.  We go to Aunt Jenny and we go to Uncle Tom.  We go everywhere.  We read everything.  We try anything and everything to find this strength, except going to the Vine to find it.  Why?  Because  we don't like the Vine's solution: drinking deeper of the blood of Christ.

The branch doesn't support the Vine, does it?  Absolutely not!  The branch continually receives from the vine--that's the branch's purpose, and it is simply the vehicle.  Our relationship with God is to function the same way.  That's why God said,"....to be entered into by a proud being."  Why?  Because it is a humbling process.  It is humbling to realize we can do nothing by ourselves; it is humbling to realize that a branch cut off from the Vine is only fit to be gathered and burned, according to verse six.

Now we read, "All who form this union must feel their need of the atoning blood of Christ."  That's the life blood.  The branch must feel its need of the life-giving flow of sap, which is the atoning blood of Christ.  If the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are not a reality to you and me, if the atonement paid on Calvary's cross is not a reality; if these are not real and central points in our thinking, our religion is vain, and we are tied to the wrong vine.  Remember, Christ is the Vine, and when we receive strength from the Vine, we receive it from Christ.

To be continued tomorrow.  Grandma Joan