Wednesday 18 Nov 2020

November 18: John 15:1-8
 
Key Verse: 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.
 
Devotion:
It is good to read and re-read passages from the bible because you get to understand the words and meaning behind the words as the Holy Spirit ministers to you. I know that sounds very evangelical but go over these few verses a few times and see what God say to you today.
 
As I look out at the garden and think of all the pruning I should have done last month, I begin to see just how important these words and actions are. When I was in hospital, not a lot was done with the garden and it showed when I finally did come home. The garden looked patchy and in dire need of work – but as soon as the rains started, so much of it sprung to life without me doing anything (at that time there was not a lot I could do because of my physical condition)
 
It reminded me how God is behind every life on earth and how His Living Water reaches far beyond our limits and restrictions. We should be willing to get in there are do the basic garden work so the harvest can be more fruitful, and the splendour even more than we can imagine! God calls us to tend to His flock daily – not to go into the garden centres to prune their plants, but to stay where we are and work with what we have: our neighbours!
 
God will not make it plain sailing because we will get lazy and not do anything to promote growth. But when He prunes in and around us, the growth afterward is even more than we can do and expect from ourselves. Allow God to do His work diligently and listen to His instructions so we can work diligently too!
 
Points to Ponder:
Are you growing lazy in the lock-down?
 
What is God asking of you now, right now?