May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
The Greek word above translated "direct" is kateuthýnō, which means to guide, direct, make straight, properly, go straight down by the most direct, efficient route; to go in a direct (straight) course – avoiding all unnecessary delays, without any undue loss of time or achievement.1
I love that! God's one-track passion imbues even the words describing Him.
Yes, our hearts do wander off the path and meander. We do need to be herded back onto the straight way. But it is when you take this word apart and look closely at its parts and the root meaning, that you see the essence of what it means for the Lord to direct our hearts. Kateuthýnō is made of two words put together, katá and euthýnō.
The katá part means "down, exactly according to … toward the goal, my eye on the goal … before the face of, in the presence of." Wow! There is a meditation right there. Adding katá to a word intensifies the meaning. In this case, it intensifies the meaning of euthýnō.
The euthýnō part means to make straight or to lead or guide straight, like a steersman or helmsman of a boat, guiding it through the rocks and the reefs. In this verb form it is only used twice. John the Baptist used this word quoting Isaiah:
"I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" John 1:23
James uses the word describing ships and rudders.
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. James 3:4
So, Paul appears to be praying that the Lord would be the helmsman of our little ships, steering them straight by the most direct, efficient route through the many dangerous rocks and reefs we encounter. But where is He steering us? Looking at Thessalonians 3:5 again, the promise is that, if we trust the Lord, he will direct our hearts into God's love (agapé) and Christ's perseverance (hupomoné).
I love that! It is God's love and Christ's perseverance. Not only are we not steering the ship ourselves, but the love and the perseverance needed for the journey does not have to come from us either, but rather from God.
And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5
And it is Christ's perseverance, not mine. The Greek word is hupomoné and means endurance, patience, steadfastness, "especially as God enables the believer to 'remain (endure) under' the challenges He allots in life." And, again, it is God who gives this endurance.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6
Yes, Lord, guide me safely through the reefs that would shipwreck me, to the shore of your great heart. Direct me into your love and into the endurance and perseverance of Christ Jesus. As I am always with you, let me pray with David that you hold me by my right hand, guide me with your counsel, and afterward take me into your glory. (Psalm 73:23-24)
The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Psalm 119:35
"God does not give us everything we want, but he does fulfill all his promises, i.e., he remains the Lord of the earth, he preserves his church, constantly renewing our faith and not laying on us more than we can bear, gladdening us with his nearness and help, hearing our prayers and leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself."—German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, letter written while in prison, August 14, 1944, in Letters and Papers From Prison, edited by Eberhard Bethge (1970)
Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way. Psalm 85:13 (NASB)
1All definitions from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance and HELPS-studies from Discovery Bible.
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