The Cut

When growing grapes for wine the gardener cuts off the first crop of fruit of the season so that they can to the good stuff. The grapes that grow back in place of the first grapes are heartier and have a better flavor.

Jesus talked about pruning in John 15:2.

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.

In my life when I find things getting cut away it makes me scared. I’m like the plant that’s full of fruit and vines. But, as it’s hard for a plant to know which fruit is good to eat, and which are not, sometimes I’m naïve and unaware. I see fruit and assume that it must be great! “Look at all this stuff in my life! Busy and productive is good!” seems to be the thought running through my head, or even “I’m not doing enough! Why am I slacking behind everyone else?!?!” So when things are taken away from my life, I freak out even more!

I’m slowly learning that getting things cut away can be a good thing, a God thing.

God is the Master of the vineyard. He knows all about the vines, what grapes are good to eat, what vines hurt the pants, and how to make the most out of every plant. His garden shears come out and I start stressin’. I’m too wrapped up in my own vines to see the goodness of some of them going away.

Through my life, as short as it has been so far, the things that have been cut out have, believe it or not, benefited me. Unhealthy relationships, habits, or things that could have lead to even more hurt, were seen by the Master Gardener before I even saw a glimpse of the trouble.

So next time God takes out his big ole clippers to do some heavy pruning and weeding, don’t freak out. What gets cut out now will only make room for much better, healthier fruit to grow in its place.