Years ago I sawed off a low hanging branch on a tree in my backyard. It exhausted me and I went in to lay down. I went out a half hour later to drag it to the dumpster in our mobile park. It was totally wilted. I was amazed.

Once the Lord prunes a fruitful branch it will bear no more fruit. It is done. In 1999 He pruned one of my fruitful branches. He stopped that ministry with His pruning shears. Perhaps you can relate.

God’s goal in pruning a fruitful branch was stated in verse 8. It says “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be My disciples.” The test of discipleship is fruit borne as we abide in Him. Verse 5 Amplified says, “…Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me (cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing.”