“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).
The firm “click” of the Gardener’s pruning shears can be heard in our lives when …
we are confined to a hospital room,
we are fired from a job,
we are moved to a new place, surrounded by strangers,
we are isolated in a new job, surrounded by unbelievers.
Your purpose, and mine, is to bring glory to God. Jesus reiterated this purpose as He concluded His challenge to the disciples to be fruitful in service: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.”
You will not bear much fruit unless and until you submit to the cutting and clipping of the Gardener. Therefore, when you resist His “gardening” in your life, what you are really doing is refusing to glorify God and therefore aborting the very purpose for your existence. Solemn thoughts, aren’t they? {eoa}
Anne Graham Lotz, founder of AnGeL ministries, has proclaimed God’s Word worldwide for more than 30 years. Her newest book, Wounded by God’s People, is available at annegrahamlotz.com.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett