Deadheads and Bloomers

“Since you have learned about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.” Ephesians 4:21–22 NLT

Deadheading is a term gardeners use to remove faded and dead flowers from plants to promote healthy and extended growth. But plants can't take off what hinders them; they need our help.

God, the gardener of His children, wants us to flourish as Christians. He prunes us to shape and encourage new growth and bear fruit but will not pick off budding bad habits and sins that stunt or encumber our walk with Him. We must treat those like deadheads, unattractive robbers of their host's needed nutrients. Unlike a helpless plant, we can and must take off unproductive hindrances that sever fellowship with our heavenly Father, anything that might cause us to stumble, fall, or not be Christ-like examples to others. If we fail to do our part, the “deadheads” will keep draining our strength and usefulness, and God will seem distant.

Paul struggled with wanting to act rightly but sometimes wrongly (Romans 7:19). We have the same struggles. Flowers (fruit) produced by human nature are unacceptable to God (Romans 8:8), but like Paul, who knew Jesus Christ was the answer to his dilemma (v. 25), we, too, can call and depend on the Sustainer of life. The Lord is always nearby, and when we, like David, acknowledge our sin, He will forgive and cleanse us (Psalm 32:8). Only then will we be Bloomers for His glory.