ABBA! – The Fatherhood of God (Pt. 4)

ABBA! – The Fatherhood of God (Pt. 1)

ABBA! – The Fatherhood of God (Pt. 2)

ABBA! – The Fatherhood of God (Pt. 3)

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THE FATHER THAT PRUNES

“Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.”

John 15:2‭, ‬8 (AMPC‬‬)

In John 15, Jesus was teaching His disciples at the Passover table just before he would journey to Calvary, and He drew an illustration to describe our connection to the divine life. Jesus teaches that He is the True Vine, His (our) Father is the Vinedresser, and we are the branches (John 15:1,5). Because of the cross of Christ, we are engrafted to the Vine as branches.

As is expected of every branch, we ought to bear fruits, and we cannot do this on our own except we are connected to the Vine. A branch cut off from its parent tree can only last for a short while before it dries up and will soon be used as firewood (v.4-6). The fruitful branches, however, are constantly pruned by the Father, and Jesus teaches that this pruning leads to even more fruitfulness.

Pruning in horticulture involves cutting off some dead or ineffective parts of the plants or trees that inhibit further growth. And if trees could talk, I reckon they would attest that such a process can be painful. But those familiar with growing plants would confirm that this is a necessary procedure in maximizing the growth and fruitfulness of the plant.

Let’s bring it home. What does pruning mean in our relationship with ABBA?

As we grow in our walk with God, He constantly seeks to trim down all the things (possessions, mindsets, relationships) that affect our spiritual growth. We might be fruitful to some extent, but these attachments prevent us from bearing “richer and more excellent fruit.” Of course, pruning might hurt, but the searing pain inflicted by the trimming shears works to bring about even more fruitfulness and in this is the Father glorified. In Nona Jones’ words, “the pain of pruning is a reward of fruitfulness.”

Discipline, A Proof of Love

Growing up, my parents often meted out punishments whenever we did something wrong around the house, which wasn’t always pleasant. Sometimes, I felt the disciplinary measures were so harsh, and I would think to myself that they probably were not my birth parents. My naive logic was that no parent would want to discomfort their child, even though I knew it was the consequence of my actions (or inaction).

However, the author of Hebrews explains that such correction and discipline are proof of sonship. It is in the place of a true Father to train, correct, and discipline his children, and it is the child he loves and cherishes that he disciplines.

“For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?”

Hebrews 12:6‭-‬7 AMPC

Discipline is a form of pruning. On the one hand, it brings to our consciousness that we have erred; on the other hand, it works as a trimming tool to allow even more growth. King Solomon understood the value of God’s discipline in His dealings with His children, and he advised against despising the Lord’s chastening. Instead, we should embrace the Lord’s reproof as a necessary ingredient for our growth.

“My son, do not despise or shrink from the chastening of the Lord [His correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial]; neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”

Proverbs 3:11‭-‬12 AMPC‬‬

The Refiner’s Fire

“He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.”

Malachi 3:3 NLT

It is common knowledge that the purest form of valuable substances such as gold and silver are gotten from the hottest furnace. These metals, when extracted from their ores, are often mixed with impurities. If used in this form, they are not as valuable as one free of impurities. The fire serves as a refining tool and burns away the dross that corrupts the metal.

Just as it is with these precious metals, God desires that we be refined and purified. He intends to craft us as masterpieces. To achieve that, we have to be melted in the furnace where we become refined and malleable, and as such, we are conformed to His very image.

Count It All Joy

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

James 1:2‭-‬4 NLT‬‬

The opening sentence of this passage is quite ironic. We are asked to rejoice when we encounter trials and challenges. Well, Apostle James didn’t leave us confused. He further explained that these challenges work in us virtues that lead to growth. The Message Translation puts it thus: “…Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

The Father desires that we be complete, mature, and well-developed, not deficient in any way. This is important because even though Abba has adopted us and we have become joint-heirs with Christ, we are no different from servants as long as we remain immature (Galatians 4:1). Give yourself over to ABBA to be pruned, and you will bear lasting fruits.