2 Thessalonians 3:5, “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”
What is your core need right now? Do you need wisdom, direction, encouragement, physical or more emotional strength, or what about patience with endurance and perseverance? Maybe a combination of them all? Paul prayed for the Thessalonians to be directed to “the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” The Message says it this way, “May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.” The New Living Translation version says, “May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.”
I have recognized some of these needs recently, while having Covid. If you have gone through this, you know what I am talking about. My hope was set each day in arriving at day five, and then day ten, having the end of this in sight. I came to the realization, after meditating on 1 Thess. 3:5, that it was another means of God teaching me about the love of God and His sure grip on my life from knowing His presence, protection, provision, and the patience of Christ. Patience is not one of my strong points. Yet I have witnessed His expression of tender and gentle love for me when I need His guidance, have a craving, longing, or deep want of some kind, and acknowledge His patience. As Isaiah 55:11 NIV states, “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” What a great verse to pray!
We all go through various seasons of life. We all revel and enjoy the mountain top experiences. But the barren wilderness episodes leave us wanting to escape and long for a breakthrough. We want to look like the well-watered flowers one sees at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, or the Botanical Gardens in La Mirada. We want spiritual maturity to be present in us automatically, like turning on the microwave to reheat a plate of food. Stability, perseverance, endurance, patience, God works in us through our cooperation with His will in our obedience to His Word. David prayed in 1 Chronicles 29:18, “Keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.”
We all are needing to exercise patience in being ready for Christ’s return with courage and consistency as this world is not our permanent address. This is where our happiness is found and where we will find God’s love made perfect. Until then, each of us is here for a reason: to glorify God and to share Christ’s message of salvation. Jon Courson has said in his NT Commentary: “The only way we can have the patience of Christ is by waiting for Him, knowing we’ll soon be with Him. I have observed that the most peaceful, patient, and contented people are those who truly live in the expectation of Jesus’ return.”
Love and patience, endurance – being steadfast, essential qualities needed more and more for spiritual stability and strength, just as the Thessalonians needed. “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2 Thess. 3:5 NIV. Come, take His hand.
Listen to the Healer (Official Lyric Video) by Casting Crowns. 12/3/21.