Much Fruit

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

John 15:2

Dear Friends,

We have lived for a while now right in the middle of a local vineyard. During those several years we’ve lived there, we have watched a field that was not producing much get ripped up and replanted. During this time, I noticed that something that was crucial to making the plant produce has been pruning. In order to produce a good crop, things must be pruned back. Watching all the work that has gone into this field reminded me of the spiritual lesson that our Lord and Savior taught.

We don’t like the disciplines of life that require getting up early to pray, leaving our dignity behind as we invite someone to church or witness, or the time involved that it takes to serve God for a drama or ministry. We would like to be fruit bearers without being pruned. But the cutting back of our desires and the cutting away of our comfort zone is God’s way to grow us strong. If a branch continues to grow without being cut back, all the little chutes will draw away from the trunk and the trunk will be weak.

Little things in our life often hinder our fruitfulness. It’s too easy for us to be upset with things that are challenging but with God’s help, we will not only bring fruit but more fruit and as it says in John 15:8, “much fruit.” There you have it, fruit, more fruit…much fruit!

Praying for Much Fruit in 2019,

Dr. Tim Pollock, Senior Pastor