The Vine and the Branches # 2

The Vine and the Branches # 2

The gardener's hand may make a slip, and he may cut too deep or cut where he did not mean to cut. Not so with the hand of God. When He takes the knife, He uses it with perfect firmness, with unerring wisdom, and with tender and compassionate love. He will make no slip, He will not cut too deep, He will give no needless pain. He will take away no comfort that would better have been left.

Sometimes, though not in general, the gardener puts an ointment to the place where the cut has been made, lest the branch should "bleed" too much, as they say. Just so, God is always ready to apply a healing ointment to the wounds which He makes. Oh, what comfort He sends in trouble! Oh, what soothing, happy thoughts! Oh, what a sense of His love! Oh, what answers to prayer! Oh, what grace and peace, what thankfulness and love! These are his precious ointments. This is how He binds up the wounds which He has made.

It is for God's glory that we should bear much fruit. Our Lord says so: "herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit." But how can a poor, suffering creature do anything for the glory of God? In many ways. By the grace of God, by a close union and communion with Christ - he may even now, in the midst of suffering, bear fruit, much fruit; and all the fruit he bears will promote God's glory.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Even while he lies on his sick-bed, cannot he through grace be meek and gentle and patient? Cannot he exercise faith? Cannot he love? Cannot he rejoice? Cannot he have peace within?

The gardener prunes the branch, that it may may bring forth more fruit hereafter - but the spiritual branch, unlike the natural branch, may show an increase of fruit already, even while the knife is being applied.

"So shall you be My disciples." This is to be the mark - not fruit merely - but increasing fruit, more fruit. God is always dealing with us in various ways for the good of our souls, for our growth in grace, for our greater fruitfulness. How are we thriving under His hand? What effect do His dealings produce? Are we proved more and more to be real disciples of Christ - living and fruitful branches of the true Vine?

There is something here also bearing upon prayer, which is the chief comfort of the Christian, especially in affliction. Our Lord says, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you." We must understand this by what has gone before. Abiding in Christ means here abiding or remaining closely joined to Him by faith, as a branch is to the vine. If we do thus abide in Him, then He assures us that our prayers shall be granted. There are many other such promises in Scripture, but this is a special one.

This then is the happy state of the suffering believer. He is joined to his Saviour - his loving Father is even now chastening him, and every prayer that he makes, will be heard and answered.

"So shall you be My disciples," said our Lord. And to be His disciples, taught and trained and owned and loved by Him - is the happiest lot on earth. Do not fear anything that may come to you as His disciple. Do not shrink from your Father's hand - even though the knife is in it. Trust Him, love Him, He will do all wisely, tenderly, faithfully. Let it be your heart's desire to abide more closely to Christ, and to bring forth more fruit to the glory of God.

Let this be your desire and your prayer. If our blessed Lord said, "You shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you," surely this will not be withheld.

~Francis Bourdillon~

(The End)