Last Saturday, I completed the annual “pruning of the roses” task at home – not as dangerous as the “running of the bulls”, but I did have some good pokes from the thorns!
Some of the rose bushes and trees we have are pretty old (according to my neighbor, some were even transplanted years ago from his house). Some of them are younger, having been planted by us. In order to keep them healthy and flowering each year, they must be pruned – even if they look like they don’t need it…even if they have blooms right now.
Old or new, well-established or just-planted – each gets the same treatment.
Every time I don the gloves and grab the shears, I think about how God prunes those who follow Christ:
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. …”
John 15:1-4
I’m sure my pruning puts the roses into a shocked condition; but I care for them, I water, feed, spray, etc. to help them recover, grow stronger, and even more beautiful. Thankfully, God does just that with us when we are pruned:
9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”
John 15:9
Old or new, well-established or just-planted – God prunes each of those He loves.
x
BTW,
11No discipline [pruning] seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11
DENNARR(dot)COM 
this analogy always gets me right in the heart.
must be that living and active part He always talks about ;]
Tia – It gets me too… Maranatha!