Devotional - Spring 2022

The Garden of Our Hearts
by Scott Hegman

“For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before the nations.”

(Isaiah 61:11)

Most of us look forward to Spring when “the earth brings forth its sprouts” and “the garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up.” If you are a gardener you not only look forward to this, but you like to get your hands dirty.  You can once again enjoy the fruit of your labor -- past, present and future.

You don’t have to be a gardener to know that a garden doesn’t just sprout up. A garden is purposeful work. The soil must be prepared and amended. Seeds need to be sown. Plants need to be planted. Plants need light, warmth and water. This all takes planning and work. Gardeners also pull weeds, and protect against insects, diseases, and critters. Many people do not stick with gardening because they don’t expect it to be this much work. Sadly, they miss out on the great rewards of the beauty of a flower garden, or the “just picked” produce from a vegetable garden.  The work is worth it!

This reminds me of the words of Jesus in His parable of the sower:

“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  (Matthew 13:23)

When we diligently tend the garden of our hearts by hearing His Word, understanding it -- and acting on it, “the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all…!”  What a glorious tribute this flourishing garden will be to the Gardener of our souls!