Jesus tells us in John 15:1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.[1] God has more for us and for that to happen we must allow Him to work as the gardener of our hearts.
The Lord Was at Work on the Heart of Lydia
Long before Paul ever came to Philippi, the Lord was already at work in the heart of Lydia. On a Sabbath day she and others gathered outside the city to pray. Acts 16:14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She and her household were baptized.[2]
Lydia, like many of us, is a work in progress. God had acted as a gardener to lead her to faith, continue to worship and then to be baptized. Think about how much time the Lord put into Lydia along her journey. But God loves to be with His children. Imagine how joyful the Lord was when she took a step of faith and was baptized.
The Lord is at Work in Your Heart
As you read this, the Lord is also working on your heart! Our Lord, the gardener is always at work, and it is not by accident that you are reading this devotional. The Lord wants to make you aware of how much He loves you and how He enjoys gardening your heart. He loves when you pray and read His word because it has such an effect on your heart.
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. [3] What would your life be like if God was not the gardener of your heart? We can be so thankful for such a gracious God who takes daily initiative to draw us close to Him.
Jesus is not only our gardener, but, also, our Savior who gave His life for us on the cross so we could be called to faith. Take time and tell others about this wonderful gardener who changes hearts and transforms lives. God loves to use us to tell others about the work of the Master Gardener.
To hear more how the Lord is the Gardener of our hearts, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/god-has-more-a-vision-for-paul
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.