THE PRUNING KNIFE
Already Ye Are Clean Because of the Word I Have Spoken Unto You--John
15:3
What is the pruning knife of this heavenly
Husbandman? It is often said to be affliction. By no means in the first place.
How would it then fare with many who have long seasons free from adversity; or
with some on whom God appears to shower down kindness all their life long? No;
it is the Word of God that is the knife, shaper than any two-edged sword, that
pierces even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and is quick to
discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is only when affliction leads
to this discipline of the Word that it becomes a blessing; the lack of this
heart-cleansing through the Word is the reason why affliction is so often
unsanctified. Not even Paul's thorn in the flesh could become a blessing until
Christ's Word--"My strength is made perfect in weakness"--had made him see the
danger of self-exaltation, and made him willing to rejoice in infirmities.
The Word of God's pruning knife. Jesus says: "Ye
are already clean, because of the word I have spoken unto you." How searchingly
that word had been spoken by Him, out of whose mouth there went a sharp
two-edged sword, as he had taught them! "Except a man deny himself, lose his
life, forsake all, hate father and mother, he cannot be My disciple, he is not
worthy of Me"; or as He humbled their pride, or reproved their lack of love, or
foretold their all forsaking Him. From the opening of His ministry in the
Sermon on the Mount to His words of warning in the last night, His Word had
tried and cleansed them. He had discovered and condemned all there was of self;
they were now emptied and cleansed, ready for the incoming of the Holy
Spirit.
It is as the soul gives up its own thoughts, and
men's thoughts of what is religion, and yields itself heartily, humbly,
patiently, to the teaching of the Word by the Spirit, that the Father will do
His blessed work of pruning and cleansing away all of nature and self that
mixes with our work and hinders His Spirit. Let those who would know all the
Husbandman can do for them, all the Vine can bring forth through them, seek
earnestly to yield themselves heartily to the blessed cleansing through the
Word. Let them, in their study of the Word, receive it as a hammer that breaks
and opens up, as a fire that melts and refines, as a sword that lays bare and
slays all that is of the flesh. The word of conviction will prepare for the
word of comfort and of hope, and the Father will cleanse them through the
Word.
All ye who are branches of the true Vine, each
time you read or hear the Word, wait first of all on Him to use it for His
cleansing of the branch. Set your heart upon His desire for more fruit. Trust
Him as Husbandman to work it. Yield yourselves in simple childlike surrender to
the cleansing work of His Word and Spirit, and you may count upon it that His
purpose will be fulfilled in you.
Father, I pray Thee, cleanse me through Thy Word.
Let it search out and bring to light all that is of self and the flesh in my
religion. Let it cut away every root of self-confidence, that the Vine may find
me wholly free to receive His life and Spirit. O my holy Husbandman, I trust
Thee to care for the branch as much as for the Vine. Thou only art my hope.