We Require Constant Pruning

Consider the crabapple tree that the farmer grafts with a golden delicious apple tree in order to produce good fruit.  Before the grafting, the crabapple tree may have been in perfect health, but it was not capable of bearing good fruit.  After the grafting process, the farmer has created a new tree capable of bearing delicious fruit.

Unfortunately, the roots of the crabapple are still in the ground and are the life source for the new fruit bearing tree.  Throughout the life of the tree, these roots produce crabapple shoots that the farmer must constantly prune in order to keep the old, barren life of the tree from overcoming the new, fruitful life of the tree.

So it is when we receive our salvation.  The new life in Christ is grafted in over our natural sinful nature.  The sinful nature of our old life rises up constantly.  Only through the constant pruning of the Holy Spirit are we able to overcome the barrenness of the old life and stay in the abundant life of Christ within us.