Acts 16:14

“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”
ESV Acts 16:14

Have you ever thought of the Apostle Paul as a farmer? The mention of Paul’s name probably conjures up a lot of images, but the image of a farmer is probably not high on your list. To think of him as an evangelist would certainly be valid. So would that of a tent maker; but farmer? Yes.

Think about it with me for a moment. Prior to planting season, while the ground is still frozen, farmers are busy making plans as to what they will plant and where they will plant it. This is the season of preparation. Similarly, Paul had gone through a season of preparation as he learned the gospel and was led by the Holy Spirit to share it with the gentile nations. Hence, Paul had a season of preparation just like a farmer.

Next, comes planting season. The farmer carefully tills the soil and places the seeds in the ground with the hope that each one will take root and ultimately yield a bountiful crop at harvest. Similarly, Paul sowed seeds by preaching the gospel in his mission field with hopes that the gospel would take root and that each hearer would ultimately bear fruit by trusting in Jesus for their salvation.

But have you noticed that sometimes our farmers have bountiful crops while at other times the yield seems short? Even though they till seemingly fertile soil, plant good seed and have a decent environment, sometimes the yield is bountiful and sometimes it isn’t. The same was true of Paul’s ministry. Sometimes folks responded to his message of truth by believing in Jesus and sometimes they didn’t; even though Paul preached essentially the same message wherever he went.

Now, have you ever given any thought to what happens between planting and harvest? Have you ever marveled at the mystery of exactly what goes on to transform a seed into a plant? I’ve got a friend who is a biologist, and I’m sure that he could give me all kinds of scientific explanations as to what transpires. But before he finished, he would smile and say something like ‘Kenny, I can’t explain it all; it’s a miracle from God.’

And the same is true here with the story of Lydia. Paul is on his second missionary journey; planting the gospel seed. He has felt compelled by the Holy Spirit through a vision to cross into Europe to do his planting. And there the seed takes root in the heart of this European business woman and she believes. Omitting the details of how a heart is changed, the text tells us that it is a blessing from God. Notice that between hearing (planting) and harvest (belief) that “The Lord opened her heart…” A changed heart is the work of God.

I’ve mentioned it here before, and I’m not certain who should be credited with the quote, but as a young adult I had a Sunday School teacher burn the definition of a successful witness into my mind: “Sharing Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God.”

With that, let me encourage you to be like Paul. Be a faithful farmer. Plant the gospel seed wherever your travels take you and pray that God would bless your planting with a bountiful harvest.

Ken worships at Tharptown Baptist Church where he teaches an adult Sunday School class. Comments on his column may be sent to kenaskew@charter.net.