King Solomon wrote in the Song of Songs of his bride who referred to herself as being to the bridegroom as the "Rose of Sharon" for beauty. Since "Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning" (Romans 15:4) and "even nature itself [teacheth us]" (1 Corinthians 11:14, let us suggest a few things about how a Christian is like a rose.

What is necessary for a rose to live, grow and bloom? It is nothing less than the created life from God, who fashioned it as one of the truly lovely plants of His creation.

What is necessary for all mankind, conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity (Psalm 51:5), born "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1), with no life toward God, to live, grow and bloom for the glory of God? It is nothing less than to be born anew (or from above, John 3:3,5,7) to receive the uncreated life of Christ. This life is the eternal life of Christ imparted to all who receive the gift of God which is through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). Then in John 1:12 we read, "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." Therefore, not only does the believing sinner receive eternal life in Christ, but he also becomes a child of God and thus possesses the divine nature of God (2 Peter 1:4), being a new creation in Christ.

The rose needs water, plant food, disease treatment and much careful pruning in order to grow, develop and come to full bloom of maturity.

Like a rose, Christians need the water of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39), and the food of the "sincere milk of the Word, that [they] may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). Needed as well is the training of the Father to trim off anything that would hinder the full power of the plant to go into the production of the beauties of its nature. God has called Christians to a royal priesthood, that they should show forth the praises (or, the excellent virtues) of Christ (see 1 Peter 2:9). Some of these virtues are listed as the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22,23—"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance [or self control]."

Therefore, as growth continues, the bud develops into a bloom, and as the bloom unfolds, all the petals show the beauty of the rose, and emit the fragrance of its nature. As the healthy, nurtured Christian grows and develops, the beauties and fragrances of the life of Christ manifested are a testimony to the work of God in the miracle of new creation. God is glorified and sinners are drawn by the display of Christ in the Christian's life to also receive Him, for the beauty and fragrance of a rose is an attraction to all. "To God be the glory: great things He has done"!