Abiding in Christ — Brings Times of Pruning Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Abiding in Christ — Brings Times of Pruning------------------------- Date: 2/25/2002 Keywords: "abide” “endure” “love” “prune" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: John 15:2b* …and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. Questions 1. What is it about pruning that makes a fruitful branch become even more fruitful?   2. What could possibly motivate God to take us through times of pruning?   Practical help The cutting away of portions of the branch produces tender new growth filled with the fresh buds needed for abundant fruit bearing. What could bring God to do the painful work of cutting away the old and unfruitful areas of our lives? Of course it’s His love for us that motivates the pruning. Abiding in Christ means to endure and stay close to Him in those times. Maybe you have already felt the pruning shears at work in your life. What about the area of porn use in your life? You can be sure that God is working to cut it away. It will be a painful process — especially if smut has gotten a tight hold of you. You may go through some shame and embarrassment. You may struggle for a time and agonize with the reality of repeated failure. You will likely have to admit your weakness. Be confident of this, and know that God’s love for you and commitment to you will keep Him cutting away at that branch. If you know the Lord and if by His grace you have experienced some spiritual fruitfulness in your life, you also know that porn use dries up your spiritual resources very quickly. God’s pruning work in your life will bring you into seasons of even more abundant fruit bearing than before. You can trust Him in the process. The outcome will be good. Endure and stay close to Jesus. What will you do today? eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2002 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."