God's Growth Plan For Your Life
The start of a new year can serve as a valuable opportunity to reflect on the trajectory of our lives and the ways God longs to see us be transformed in our walk with Him. But how? How do we know where God is inviting us to change or grow?
In John 15, Jesus lays out for us a simple illustration that can help us as we consider God’s plan for growth in our lives.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. 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. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.“ John 15:1-8 NIV
1. Branches that don’t produce will be cut off
Branches that don’t produce will be cut off .
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit…”
Colin G. Kruse explains in his commentary on The Gospel of John that, “‘fruit’ refers to the entire life and ministry of those who follow Jesus’ teaching and experience his presence in their lives through the Spirit.”
Galatians 5 explains, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Who doesn’t need more of this kind of fruit in their lives? I know I do! And God knows how desperately we need it as well.
Like an expert Gardner, The Father knows that remaining connected to Jesus is the only pathway to a fruitful life, so He cuts off those branches that aren’t fruit-bearing.
This passage invites us to take a hard look at our lives, and consider some really important questions:
Where in my life am I not seeing the kind of spiritual fruit that God longs for me?
Are there habits or practices in my life that are inhibiting me from Jesus’ way of life?
Could there even be “good” things I’m being invited to let go of so that I can take hold of “the best” things?
The uncomfortable part of this passage is that God is committed to our spiritual growth more than our personal comfort. He is not beholden to us and will see to this kind of work in our lives as an expert gardener, even at the risk of our misunderstanding Him.
2. Branches that do produce fruit are pruned
Branches that do produce fruit are pruned…
“Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…”
The second truth that we see in this passage is that God will strategically prune you in areas where you have been fruitful to help you be even more fruitful in the future.
I’m not sure about you, but both options involve cutting of some kind… neither of which sounds pleasant.
It's curious how we grasp this truth yet feel surprised when we encounter pruning. Why is that? Personally, it's because I sometimes believe that being faithful to God should shield me from pain. Yet, Jesus confronts this notion in John 16, reassuring us: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
This leads us to important questions about pruning:
Where have you noticed spiritual fruit in your life and how might God be pruning back in those places?
Is it possible that things I’ve considered to be setbacks in areas of passion or calling might actually be pruning?
Take a moment to reflect on these questions and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the work He is doing in you.
It’s interesting how we usually perceive all growth as positive and pruning as negative. However, an overly long branch risks breakage or investing resources in less fruitful areas. Pruning, even good aspects, directs us to invest in what truly matters for optimal growth.
Where might God be pruning you in this season of your life? How might responding to the invitation to “let go” open you to greater fruitfulness?
3. The key to fruitfulness is abiding
The key to fruitfulness is abiding
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
“Remain in me,” Jesus says. It’s only through a deep connectedness to Jesus that you will bear the kind of spiritual fruit you’ve been longing for.
How often do we hear an invitation to partner with The Holy Spirit but then immediately try to accomplish these God-sized tasks in our own strength? The result? Burn out.
How often have we heard great sermons where we were sent out with an encouraging message that landed with “try harder”? It lasts for a little while and then fizzles out because it began and ended with our strength. The kind of fruit-bearing God is inviting us into is impossible without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Without the life-giving flow of the Spirit, we’ll never bear fruit.
Consider for a moment what is required for grape vines in the PNW to survive:
Angela Labrum, a leading horticulturalist in Salem, Oregon explains, “Vines in the Willamette Valley are susceptible to disease so they have to be grafted onto a different root system that isn’t susceptible to the diseases that are prevalent in our soil.” As a result of these grafting efforts, nurseries have helped to develop vines that flourish, yielding top-tier wine grapes for vineyards across The Willamette Valley and beyond.
Just as we’ve been grafted into Christ (Romans 11), producing spiritual fruit is only possible by staying deeply connected to Jesus.
”So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.“ Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
This invites us to consider: what are we doing to foster and grow our relationship with the Lord? How are we abiding in him?
Jesus models the importance of withdrawing to stay connected with the Father and to discern His will. Similarly, we need to cultivate a regular spiritual rhythm to stay connected—frequently immersing ourselves in the Father's love, abiding in Him, and discerning His voice as it comes to bear on our lives.
Struggling to find a spiritual rhythm that helps you do this? Consider reaching out. I’d love to help you find something that fits your current season of life.
But it’s not enough to simply know God’s way of life. Jesus had very strong words for those who knew all the right answers (cognitive ascent) but for whom it never translated into action.
Following the sermon on the mount, Jesus explains, ”whoever hears these words of mine and puts them into practice are like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” It’s not enough to simply be aware of the truth, it has to be lived.
Jesus explains that if you live into His way of life, you will remain in His love. When we ask for divine guidance, and then resolve to take tangible action steps to live into these areas in the power of The Spirit, we see a change in the trajectory of our lives. God uses our obedience. This isn’t a works-based faith or earning of God’s favor, but obedience out of our love for God that marks us as followers of Jesus.
This is why Jesus commands that we teach others to “obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:20) in the great commission. Interesting that he didn’t say to just “know all the things I have commanded you.” This is why Jesus explains just a chapter earlier in John 14, “if you love me you will obey my commandments”.
So as you consider the invitation before you today, prayerfully consider:
What do you think The Holy Spirit is saying to you at this point in your life, in the context of the challenges and opportunities you are facing?
As you reflect on your journey, what do you desire most in your relationship with God?
What is one tangible step you feel invited to take to respond to God’s invitation?
Closing blessing by Joseph Tetlow
Draw Me into Your Friendship
Lord Jesus, from the start You invite ordinary people to come to where you live. When they come, you welcome them and call them to labor and rejoice with you. You are the most beautiful among all men, and I hardly believe you want me for your friend. You are powerful, Lord. Draw me more and more into your friendship and lead me along the way you took with friends.
Would you benefit from having a supportive and confidential space to process what God has been stirring in you? Have you struggled to develop spiritual rhythms that will help you discern God’s voice in your life? Click here to schedule a free spiritual direction session.
Additional Resources:
Centering Prayer - A simple practice for listening for God’s voice
The Welcoming Prayer - helping us with anxiety
When we feel like we are drowning, why “trying harder” doesn’t help,
