Fruit does not happen by accident.  Branches only bear fruit in union with the vine. The branches obtain life through the vine; the vine sustains them; they produce fruit through the vine. The only way to bear fruit is for the branches to abide in the vine.  The Father is the gardener, who tends the vine. He removes the lifeless, fruitless branches—those branches that were never truly “in the vine,” but only supposed themselves to be. He “cleanses” (some versions render this “prunes”) the branches, so that they will bear even more fruit. We really need to pause here for a moment, to reflect on what these words of our Lord really mean. There is a way in which Christians can very quickly and easily turn things around, losing the emphasis and focus we should have. When our pleasure becomes paramount, rather than God’s glory, then we have fallen far short of what God’s Word teaches. Our purpose in life is not to “fill our cups” with all the pleasure we can experience; it is to abide in Christ so that we may bear fruit for Him. The process by which this fruit bearing is promoted is often painful. Therefore, the Father cleanses or prunes us, so that we will be more fruitful. And lest you think the Father is being difficult on us, do not forget that the “fruit” which our Lord produced by His life and sacrificial death at Calvary came at great cost to Him, and to the Father.  What in your life comes the closest to representing Christ’s sacrifice/fruit on the cross?