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
In this section of John Jesus compares us to branches and himself to the vine. He is using the analogy of the grape vine to explain our relationship to him and to God. In verse 1 Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener”. Part of a gardener’s job to cut off or prune dead branches from the plants in his garden or in this case from the grape vines. This pruning serves two purposes. The first is that it removes the dead and useless branches from the plant making room for new growth. The second is that by pruning a plant the gardener actually causes the new growth to come in bigger, stronger and more beautiful. When God prunes your life by removing or causing to be removed from it the things that are unhealthy to your walk with him he is doing the same thing as the gardener. God prunes you to make you bigger, stronger and more fruitful. While the process may seem painful remember this, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).