Living in an area abundant with trees is a wonderful thing. As the seasons change, so do the leaves on some as they burst with brilliant hues of orange and yellow and then others remain green all year. The birds and squirrels take refuge in them and we are blessed with the shade they provide.

A few weeks ago, we were the unfortunate recipients of an early ice storm that brought electrical power lines and poles down along with tens of thousands of tree limbs and countless trees. As I sit here, two weeks later, all I can hear is the sound of a chainsaw grinding away outside. That sound has become all too familiar and constant.

Driving through our neighborhood and our small town, the devastation is heartbreaking. Trees that once canopied over the roads are now broken, their branches dangling or in most cases, piled up on the ground under them. As I was taking in all the damage, I thought about the concept of pruning—specifically as it is described in scripture.

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 prunesso 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.

John 15:1-4 (NIV)

Did you know the above phrase “he prunes” means “he cleans” in Greek?

Several years ago we had a Live Oak planted in our front yard in Texas. It was really small but it grew pretty fast. I simply don’t recall why I had an arborist come to look at it but I’ll never forget him saying the tree needed to be pruned; it needed to be cleared of some inner branches so that light could pass through the tree and consequently the whole tree would be healthier—it needed to be pruned—it needed to be cleaned out.

Perhaps many of the trees that suffered so much devastation a few weeks ago needed pruning, needed cleaning out. As I looked around, I noticed some trees withstood the storm better than others and were barely scathed or appeared to have sustained no damage at all.

Pruning will happen—either by design or by force. That applies to us as well. We can either seek to be pruned in preparation of the storms to come or we can wait and allow the extraneous branches in our lives to be cleaned out in an unexpected, and devasting storm.

An arborist will tell you if your trees need pruning so they can survive the storms that will inevitably come. But here is the Good News—the best news—if we let him, Jesus will remove those things in our life that are not good and he will prune and refine us to be disciples who are strong in our faith, able to stand firm.

Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV)

I guess you could say Jesus is the consummate arborist. Amen.

C. Deni Johnson

November 10, 2020