Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – John 15:1-4 – Pruned And Purified – Growing As Disciples
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:1-4 (NLT)
Pruning
You have not been a fan of pruning. You haven’t liked it when I have pruned the dead wood out of your life. You would have preferred to remain comfortable and untouched, is that right? You are right, I have not been a fan of pruning. Pruning is no fun. Pruning has caused me some real pain and great discomfort. It would never be my choice to go through pruning. I doubt that. Why do you say? I know you don’t like the pain of pruning. I know that you would like the alternative far less. What’s the alternative? That’s a good question.
Let me review what I have heard you say to me. I’m listening. You have said that you want to know me intimately. You have said that you want to know my will and walk in my ways. You have said that you will leave your old life behind so that you can live a completely new life with and for me. You have said that you want to be on fire to passionately serve me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. You have said that you want me to use you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. You have said that you want to shine brightly as a witness for me in the darkness of this world. Have I heard you correctly? Have you said these and many similar things? Yes, I have said all these things. I want to fully live the life that you have called me to live. Well, none of these things would be possible without some pruning in your life. Does that surprise you? No, I know that I am far from perfect. There is a lot of dead wood and barrenness in my life. I do need pruning.
So, if you want to move forward with me, your life will experience some pruning. Not a day will go by that I won’t be molding and shaping your life. Day-by-day I will be pruning you. Day-by-day I will be purifying your life. You know that you have been forgiven of all your sins and cleansed of all your righteousness. Yes, I do. You have been made righteous because of all that my Son has done for you. You have been made new and fresh and clean in Him. You now have a new life to live. Day-by-day, I will help you to live fully for me as I prune and purify your life. Every day I will be working in and through you to make you to be more and more like my Son. Will you welcome my work in your life? Will you allow me to prune and purify your life as you love, follow and serve me? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good.
Heavenly Father, thank you for pruning and purifying my life. I know you will continue to prune and purify my life so I can produce fruit I will remain in Christ and rely on Him so I can bear abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen
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God’s Word – John 15-1-4 – Pruned And Purified – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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