Thinning Out is Needed for Bearing Fruit

Thinning can be Painful

While gardening, I had to thin the radishes. Many of the radishes were crowded and I had to pull hundreds of radishes. It really bothered me as I felt I was wasting the food and the harvest. I was tempted to leave a few bunched together because I really thought this would yield a better crop. When I was done, I had huge mounds of the radish leaves.  The leaves looked very healthy and lush. It was important to plant them heavily and far apart to assure development of some seeds. The bottom including the root had the start of a radish on it. It took me a long time to thin the radishes. I had to keep looking over the radishes to see if I missed radish plants that may crowd out another plant. Again, I was tempted to just leave them alone as I reasoned they would yield more.

As I was thinning radishes, I saw many comparisons in the thinning out process to our spiritual growth in Christ. Things have to be removed or thinned out so they don't crowd out the best growth God is doing in our lives. Thinning out also assures proper root development and a better "fruit" that tastes good and healthier for the one eating the fruit.  If the plant is too close together, the radishes may be woody tasting or spongy feeling.   The radish also could be too small. This reminds me of God stating different fruits produced in His word. In Deuteronomy 32:32 it says "For their vine is the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of gall their clusters are bitter." Then in Genesis 49:11 which says "Binding his donkey to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes." Right before this in verse 10 it talks of Shiloh coming and to him shall be the obedience of the people.  I like how in the choice vine there is so much abundance of grapes that he washed his garments in wine and clothes in the blood of grapes.

 Jesus says the Father is the Gardener, he Jesus is the vine and we his children are the branches. We can not bear fruit apart from  him. The vine is the trunk of the plant that grows out of the ground. I think of it as the root system.

 Jesus says in John 15:1-8:

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener(vinedresser). ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ 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.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Our Father is the Gardener and Jesus is the true vine. We are to be the branches that bear fruit. We are to be fruitful.  The Father like any good gardener has to prune us to get rid of the dead branches that will not bear fruit.



Scripture:  Proverbs 31:16 - She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

Observation: 1. process of Proverbs 31 woman (a) She considers (considering stage) (b) she buys a field(Exchange) and (c) Plants  a vineyard (purpose)
2. Reason she bought the field was she was to plant a  vineyard.  Our purpose to bear fruit for the Father's Glory showing ourselves to be Jesus' disciples. Vineyard is a picture of fruitful harvest.

Application: Submission to thinning as what good, healthy plants fights against the thinning process. To think more about the harvest rather than what is being thinned out now. This reminds me of the song "Bringing in the sheaves" lyrics which says Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Prayer:  Lord, I don't want to be a degenerate branch. I don't want to produce bitter grapes of fall. Lord, I want your abundant fruit to grow out of me and feed many. Thinning does not feel good when it is happening but I desire to walk in your ways and in your commands. I would rather obey you than men for from you my expectation comes. Thank you Father that you are the gardener and you see and observe everything in me. You know what needs thinning and what needs tending to produce fruit for your glory. Thank you Jesus that you are the vine. I pray I remain in you with a deep abiding rather than reasoning what will bring growth apart from you. Thank you Holy Spirit that produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self control.