2021-07-01
John 15:4 NIV
Jesus said: ‘My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch…that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit’ (v.1-5 NIV).
God wants to produce the fruits of the Spirit in our lives and make us more Christlike in character, and this is how He does it: First, He’ll show us the habits, relationships, and activities that make it impossible for us to bear spiritual fruit, and then begin to cut them off. But He can only do that if we let Him. Second, He’ll reveal to us the things that drain us spiritually and keep us from bearing more fruit. And His favourite pruning knife is His Word, which is ‘sharper than any double-edged sword’ (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).
As we read God’s Word, He cuts away the bad so that it doesn’t obstruct the good. Then He prunes the good so that it doesn’t obstruct the best. This also explains why He allows difficult times to come into our lives. One pastor put it this way: ‘Trials may simply be pruning shears in the hands of the divine Gardener – tools He uses to cut away dead wood, fruitless branches, and sap-sucking shoots so that we might bear more fruit.’
Jer 31-32; Luke 4:1-13; Ps 98; Prov 14:34
John 15:4 NIV
Jesus said: “My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch…that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me….If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (vv.1-5 NIV).
What does God want from you today? Spiritual fruit! And He will do two things to produce it in your life. First, He will show you the habits, relationships, and activities that make it impossible for you to bear spiritual fruit, and then begin to cut them off. But He can only do that if you let Him. Second, He will reveal to you the things that drain you spiritually and keep you from bearing more fruit. And His favourite pruning knife is His Word, which is “sharper than any double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).
As you read God’s Word, He cuts away the bad so that it doesn’t impede the good. Then He prunes the good so that it doesn’t obstruct the best. This explains why He allows difficult times to come into our lives. As one pastor puts it: “Trials may simply be pruning shears in the hands of the divine Gardener – tools He uses to cut away dead wood, fruitless branches, and sap-sucking shoots so that we might bear more fruit.”
Soul food: Jer 31-32; Luke 4:1-13; Ps 98; Prov 14:34
Johannes 15:4 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘…my Vader is die tuinier. Elke loot aan My wat nie vrugte dra nie, sny Hy af. Elkeen wat egter vrugte oplewer, snoei Hy sodat dit nog meer vrugte kan dra. Julle is reeds skoon gesnoei deur die boodskap wat Ek met julle gedeel het. Julle moet aan My verbonde bly soos Ek aan julle. ‘n Loot kan nie uit sy eie vrugte dra as dit nie aan die druiwestok verbind bly nie, en só julle ook nie as julle nie voluit aan My verbonde bly nie… Wie aan My verbonde bly en Ek aan hulle, dra baie vrugte…’ (verse 1-5 NLV).
Wat wil God vandag van jou hê? Geestelike vrugte! Hy sal twee dinge doen om dit in jou lewe te produseer.
Eerstens, sal Hy vir jou die gewoontes, verhoudings en aktiwiteite wys wat dit onmoontlik vir jou maak om geestelike vrugte te dra en dan begin om dit af te sny. Hy kan dit egter net doen as jy Hom toelaat om dit te doen.
Tweedens, sal Hy vir jou die dinge wys wat jou geestelik dreineer en jou daarvan weerhou om meer vrugte te dra. Sy gunsteling snoeiskêr is sy Woord, wat ‘….skerper as die ontleedmes van ‘n chirurg…’ (Hebreërs 4:12 NLV), is.
Soos jy God se Woord lees, sny Hy die slegte af sodat dit nie die goeie belemmer nie. Dan snoei Hy die goeie sodat dit nie die beste wegsteek nie. Dit verduidelik hoekom Hy toelaat dat ons moeilike tye in ons lewens ondervind. Soos een pastoor dit stel: ‘Moeilike tye mag dalk eenvoudig ‘n snoeiskêr in die hande van die goddelike Tuinier wees – gereedskap wat Hy gebruik om dooie hout en vrugtelose takke af te sny sodat ons meer vrugte kan dra.’
Sielskos: Jer 31-32; Luk 4:1-13; Ps 98; Spr 14:34
