“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 15:2).

There was a man who would stop by the garden market each spring and buy a plant or bush.

He loved working in his garden caring for the plants.

One year, he bought a flowering patio tree with small purple flowers that bloomed all spring, summer, and fall.

In late fall, he would carry it to the barn, put it in an empty stall, and water it once or twice a month.

It was dormant and showed no signs of life in the winter.

In the spring, when he brought it back to the patio, he set it next to a window.

Each day, he watched it… hoping it would show some life again soon.

He took the pruning shears and shaped it, cared for it, and hoped for the best.

After a few weeks, he noticed a few green leaves sprouting out of the dead branches.

And a month later, almost all of the branches were covered with leaves.

If the man hadn’t taken care of the tree and cut the dead branches-

– it wouldn’t have looked so beautiful for the spring, summer, and fall.

In the same way-

Jesus sees the dead, unfruitful branches in us and cuts them away.

The dead branches can be-

– relationships that control our lives,

– material things,

– attitudes, or

– pride in work or ministry.

Only the Lord knows each person well enough to know-

– the exact branches that need to be cut away.

But, He is caring for you and watching over you all the time.

Thank God for knowing you so well-

– that He knows exactly which branches to trim,

– so you can be more fruitful.