By grace ye are saved and by grace we, God’s people, shall persevere in doing the will of God. The soil that we, the planting of the Lord, grow in is His grace. The Master Gardner has grafted us, into Jesus Christ, the True Vine, Who is rooted in God’s grace. We are expected to grow and mature to “fruit-bearing” ability. The branch that humbly and eagerly receives the grace of salvation begins to grow in grace; and, as he/she grows, more grace flows. Before every season of new growth, there is a season of preparation. It is in this season that the pruning of the Word of God is applied. Life in this world is stressful and sometimes damaging to the branch. But the Word of God is sharp and able to cleanse the dead or damaged parts of the branch so that it may continue to flourish. Though new plants grow and must endure pruning, it only produces fruit after a certain degree of maturity. And the old branch that has produced fruit in the past sometimes must endure the most rigorous pruning in order to remain fruitful. It is in the pruning period that the greatest care and consideration is given. Our Lord is truly masterful at pruning the yielded branches for future growth and fruitfulness. For us, the branches, the task is one of simply abiding in the Vine and under the care of the Master Gardner. Selah.