Pruned & Purified

“You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.”- John 15:3 New Living Translation

                  Jesus obviously saw growth in his disciples, because He pruned them, rather than cut them off. Judas was the only disciples that was cut off for obvious reasons. This translation uses the word “purified”, other translations use the word “clean”. This shouldn’t be understood to be “perfect”, but sincere devotion to Christ and His teachings united the disciples to “the vine”.

                  The purifying or cleansing is done by God’s Word. It condemns sin; inspires holiness and promotes spiritual growth. The pruning removed disobedience which comes from evil intent. The disciples were then conditioned to further serve the Lord. When their conversion took place, their cleansing began. It’s no different with us today. Our redemption erodes away all the sin that weighed us down. The Word of God cleansed the disciples, just as it cleanses us. Our responsibility is to NOT roll around in the mud again. Another responsibility is that we allow ourselves to be pruned. It’s called self-assessment and it is very important to maintain solid footing in God’s kingdom. 

Life isn’t a game, nor is it a party; however, it also doesn’t need to be dreary and boring. Being bored is a choice. As the saying goes: ‘Life is what you make it’ and that’s true. So, make your life the best it possibly can be by spending time with the Creator of the Universe. Don’t be a Christian in name only. That will get you nowhere. Cultivate your personal relationship with Almighty God and step up to the next plateau in your salvation walk. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: Zondervan Bible Commentary; Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Believer's Bible Commentary.