John 15:1-2 says that Jesus is the Vine and the Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." Verse 5b says, "for apart from me, you can do nothing." And nothing means nothing...not even just a little.
The warning then sounds forth loud and clear: "If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch...and the branches are...thrown into the fire, and are burned." And it got me to thinking about how though we may look good on the outside, we may not actually be producing fruit on the inside.
Verses 8-11 tell us the pruning process and its results, with a large "so what" at the end of the passage. "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and abide in His love. These things have I spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Then comes the "so what" in verses 12-17. "This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you...These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
Ladies, our whole lives belong to King Jesus! It is a joy and a privilege to serve Him - and that would actually be enough because of the privilege of grace bestowed abundantly upon all whom God the Father has sovereignly chosen to be rooted into the Vine. But Jesus goes further and says He has not called us servants, but friends! Friends with the King of the Universe! It really doesn't get any better than that!
So of course, in order to magnify and make to look good this wonderful friendship that we as children of the King have been graciously given by our Father's merciful hand, we are to go and make friends with others in the same ways He has done that with us. We are to be merciful, kind, compassionate, seeking others out rather than waiting for them to come to us, gracious friends to those who don't deserve it. This means there is no room for being snobbish or cliquish or exclusive in our churches or friendships, and there should never be a time when there are people we just refuse to speak to in our churches - If you're living this way, you need to repent and once again believe the good news of the gospel. Philippians 2:3-5a tells us: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others nore significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus..."
My precious friends, don't despise the discipline and pruning of the Lord when His hand seems hard on you and you don't understand what He's doing. Trust His character, His disposition toward you in Christ: Remember, He is for you and not against you (which is what we absolutely deserve). And all of His pruning is for the purpose of loving God more and loving others more mercifully and sacrificially.
Are you growing in this kind of love? If not, why not? It may be time to beg the Holy Spirit to give you some discipline and trials so that you will grow in compassion, kindness, grace, a forgiving heart, and merciful heart and disposition toward the people in your life whom you find hard to love - remembering that you yourself are often very hard to love and that the kindness of God our Savior appeared, not due to our goodness but according to His sheer grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Titus 3:5-7)
Let us be merciful women today who are conduits of love and grace to our families first, and then outwardly to all we meet this way. I guarantee living this way will reduce your anxietieis and worries, will give you rest of heart, will help you know what you ought to do, and will bless your husbands and children, enabling them to do better what God has called them to do.
Oh, how thankful I am for God's grace!
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