To bear more fruit

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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. – John 15.1-2

There are certain passages of scripture that God uses at certain times to teach ou certain things that mark milestones in our spiritual lives. This is one of those passages for me.

Almost 27 years ago we were in a mission’s conference at our church in Alabama. Mary and I were praying about what God wanted us to do. We were still devestated and hurt by the closing of the school we had been teaching in. We thought we were there for life.

But as Ron Brooks was preaching he pointed out theat there are times when God prunes back fruit-bearing branches to allow them to bring forth more fruit. I felt like had been bearing fruit in the school ministry so why did God cut that off from us?

After more than 25 years I think I know. Though our work in Ireland may not seem to many like ‘more fruit’ God has been working in our lives and hopefully in the lives of people we meet. We have learned to live lives of deep reliance on Him. We have seen a few lives changed and a handful of people be saved and baptised and living for the Lord in this dark and spiritually barren land.

The pruning was tough on us. We are still being pruned as we speak, but we are striving to trust God with His promise to allow us to bear more fruit.