Chances are, you've glossed over one of the most important instructions Jesus gave us.

Not intentionally. It just takes a bit of digging to understand the metaphor Jesus used.

In John 15, Jesus tells us to abide in Him as a grape branch abides in the vine. If we don't, we'll be cut off. If we do, then we'll be pruned to produce much fruit.

We get this at a surface level. But we miss the timing that is being revealed.

When a vinedresser plants a grape vine, he doesn't expect to see fruit until the third year. Even then, the fruit is not good, so it is pruned for the next couple of years. Only in year six is a true harvest expected.

So, as long as you are abiding in Jesus, you will produce fruit. But it will take time.

And that's why we are instructed to be patient with each other's faults, and to never give up on our fellow believers.

There's only One who knows when it's pruning time: the vinedresser, which is God. So, instead of getting wound up with others' faults, or even your own, trust God with the timing.

He'll take care of the pruning at just the right time. You don't have to worry about it, as long as you are sticking close to Him.