Names of God: Geōrgos (The Gardener)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
“Gardener” is not a title we typically use to refer to God (even though there is a lot of agricultural imagery in the Bible). But that’s how the Scriptures portray Him, and that’s what Jesus called Him. And with good reason.
Human history began in a garden (Genesis 1–3). It’s there in a lush place called Eden that God met with His human creatures and instructed them to cultivate and care for His creation.
When sin entered the world, God’s garden was ruined and access to Eden was lost. What did God do? He instituted an epic plan to restore His garden paradise. Throughout the events described in the rest of the Bible, God farmed. He carefully and patiently grew a nation, in much the same way one would grow crops. God, in a sense, sowed seed. He planted and watered. He mended and tended. He replanted and transplanted. He pruned and fertilized. He drove away “pests.” He uprooted and shored up.
When God sent
In the final three chapters of the Bible, we read about a new creation—new heavens and a new earth—that sounds very “garden-like.” The apostle John described a lush and green paradise where humans once again have access to “the tree of life.”
Meanwhile, in a world still feeling the effects of sin, the divine Gardener works. By His grace, and through our faith, He grafts us into Christ, the true vine, the source of life. We’re just branches. But as we stay firmly attached to Him, we grow and bear life-giving fruit. At times God props us up or trims us back so that we’ll be even more fruitful.
Our job is not to worry about dirt or fertilizer, or where other plants are located, or what fruit they’re producing. Our job is simply to respond to the Gardener’s care—and grow!
PRAYER
Lord, I surrender my life to You. Plant me where You want. Make me beautiful and fruitful in Your garden. Amen.
This blog post is adapted from my book 100 Names of God Daily Devotional, which was released on October 20. You can learn more about it here.
Hello I read this and wow it seems like for me. I have traveled three times and didnt know where to go but I believe god does know where he wants me....lol I was in Jacksonville then went to Georgia then to Cincinnati then now im stand put in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Thats where got me at living with my brother....gpd bless me and use me as your vessel
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