In yesterday's reading, we learned that God our Father, the Husbandman of the Vine, does not throw us away if we do not bear fruit, but lifts us up off the ground so that we depend more on His Son.
Today, let us look at another word which has caused misleading readings and misunderstandings.
When we read "purge" the first thought that comes to mind is "Cut", or even pain.
While moving away from living in our flesh to walking in His Spirit can elicit discomfort, that is not so much God's fault as our resistance.
Furthermore, the word "purge" is actually the word "katharzo" or "cleanse".
So, God our Father does not cut at us, but rather He cleanses us, which He accomplishes through His Word:
"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15: 3)
and also
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5: 25-27)
God is not about destroying us, but cleansing us.
His Word shapes us, and as we see more of Jesus, we are transformed from glory to glory in Him (2 Corinthians 3: 18)
How do we keep bearing fruit? By feeding on His Word:
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)
and
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" (1 Peter 2: 2)
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