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 it so that it may bear more fruit.

  Good morning. 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 it so that it may bear more fruit. First note that the branch He’s talking about is in Him. He is not talking about an unbeliever. If it does not bear fruit, then the Father takes it away. It does not say that they will lose their salvation, but it is kind of scary. Even if it does bear fruit, it gets pruned - ouch. But it is not because He’s being mean; it is in order that it may bear more fruit. This is true with natural branches. When my neighbor has someone trim her crêpe myrtles that are on the boundary of our property, they are next to nothing but stumps. When spring comes, they explode to new heights. That is what God wants with us. Instead of using pruning shears, He uses the word of God. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. I believe I have talked to you before about the two different kinds of “cleans” that are used in the Bible. If pure water is mixed with pure wine, then you have the first kind of clean. This is the second kind, which is stronger. You cannot mix two items, even if they are both pure in themselves. The verse reminds us of what Jesus said when He washed the disciples’ feet. He told them that if they had bathed, they were clean and only needed to wash their feet. The word “clean“ used there is the same one that is used here. What else is needed? Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. Father thank You that we are branches in Jesus and abide in Him. Help us to stay pure as we go about in our daily lives.