PSALM 118:18 – The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.”
THEME OF THE DAY: YES, IT HURTS. In the Parable of the Vine and Branches of John 15, our Lord tells us what happens in the lives of all His children; they are pruned – I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:1-2). The verb prune means “to cleanse” and appears only twice in the New Testament, here and in Hebrews 10:2. The idea is that of removing what is unclean, of no value or use.
Picture this scene. Suppose the branches in Jesus’ parable could speak. We have this one branch that is doing what it is supposed to do – bear fruit. All is well, but then the Vinedresser breaks out the pruning tool and starts to cut away from the fruitful branch. Suddenly, the calm fruit-bearing branch screams, “Hey, that hurts. Why are you doing this? I am bearing fruit. Ouch. Please stop.” Yet, the Vinedresser continues cutting away what is hindering the branch from bearing more fruit.
In the life of the Christian, we are the branches and genuine branches produce spiritual fruit. Genuine branches will also be purged from what hinders more fruit like pride, worldliness, fleshly desires, sinful attitudes, and anything else that needs to be removed. This work of the Vinedresser, the Lord, is called “discipline” or “chastisement” and yes, it hurts. And yes, like in today’s scripture, it will hurt severely because what hinders us from bearing fruit takes much pain to be removed from the believer. But another reason for pruning is to allow for progressive fruit, not just fruit. The Christian life is to be a life of progressive fruit bearing.
Back to the Parable, we notice the Lord Jesus tells us of this progression is to go from “fruit” to “more fruit” to “much fruit” – Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:2-5).
So, what may we do or better yet, what attitude must we adopt if we are going to be fruitful branches that don’t complain under the pruning work of our Lord. The answer is found in the New Testament book of Hebrews, chapter twelve . . .
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:5-11).
The way we gladly submit to the painful work of the Lord’s refining us is to see the purpose behind the pain – conformity to the holy image of Jesus. When we learn to focus away from the pain of discipline and onto the purpose of discipline, we will embrace it with rejoicing. Yes, it hurts, but it is worth the pain!
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for Your unfailing commitment to make me like Your Son that includes painful discipline.”
QUOTE: “To be disciplined by the Lord is not a pleasant experience but it is an affirming proof of our adoption by Him.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim