2 Thessalonians 3:4-5
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance (2 Thessalonians 3:5, NIV).

Knowing the importance of the truth that he shared with them in verse 4, Paul went ahead to show them who could help them to stand.  He writes, “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 5, NIV).

Friend, we need the Lord to help us and direct our hearts to His love. We need Him to direct our hearts to the things that pleases Him. We also need His help when we face trials and temptation so that we will be able to persevere and stand strong.

The New King James Version presents our focal text in another beautiful format, “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ”. The key phrase for me is “the patience of Christ.

O! How we need patience in our time. We need patience to know that God is faithful.  We need patience to know that our God is not a distance God. He cares about us and what we are going through. And, after all is said and done we will win. See Revelation 21:7.

That is why James writes, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4).  Only the Lord can help us to do this. So we look to Him. Let us pray.

Your Turn

• Do you need the love of God and the patience of Christ to stand for Him at home, school or workplace? · Talk to God about your concerns.

Hymn:  My faith looks up to thee.

Further Reading: Romans 5:1  5; Revelation 21:1-7.