It was so easy to tell the good branches from the dead ones in the middle of winter. My wife and I will go outside and look over each tree and discuss what branches need to come out.

Later on, we get out the ladder, the electric saw and the pruning paint. Our trees are getting older and the dead branches are right there with the live good branches but the dead branches need to go. Tree trimming reminds me of something the Bible addresses in several places. There are two types of pruning in the Bible.

One type is for the live trees and it is so they can produce more fruit or be more fruitful, (John 15:1-10). Another type of pruning is removing totally dead wood or wood that has no life in it, (John 15:2&6).

Dead wood in the Bible usually refers to people that are disobedient to God and have refused to accept Jesus Christ as Savior, (Ephesians 2:1&5). There is coming a day when the disobedient will be punished and it is not going to be pretty, (Malachi 3:18, 4:1&3).

God even has a book of remembrance, (he knows), of everyone that loves Him and there is going to be a great day of reward for them (Malachi 3:16, 4:2). It is not too late, we can turn to God, ask Him to forgive us of your sins, and call upon Jesus Christ, (John 1:12, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 5:14). See you in Church next Sunday.