Jesus said," I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, no more can ye, unless ye abide in Me. “I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.

“As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. “This is My commandment: that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of My Father, I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:1-17

Jesus is the true vine. As branches are joined to vine and depend upon it for its nourishment and livelihood we too must look only to Him. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. " Heb 12:2 Our only source of life and strength is our union with Jesus. Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. " John 7:37

This life giving union with our Lord has an eternal purpose. He desires that we bring forth fruit. He says that as we remain in Him he will prune us which will enable us to bring forth more fruit. This pruning process is not an easy journey for some people who get stuck in their lives by old habits and addictions but it is necessary that these old things pass away and all things become new as we mature.

The pruning that God does in our lives is not optional. Its necessary even though it may not feel pleasant for us at the time. Oftentimes, it will hurt but it just means that He is removing the things and people from our lives who will hinder us and keep us from being unfruitful. Sometimes you will see a cutting off of old relationships or habits or mindsets. This is the Lord working in our lives.