May the Lord direct your heart to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:5
A few word studies from Helps in the Discovery Bible ~
DIRECT :2720 kateuthýnō (from 2596 /katá, "down, exactly according to," intensifying 2116 /euthýnō, "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. [The prefix (kata) lends the idea "exactly direct or guide" – literally "down to without unnecessary deviation."]
INTO: 1519 eis (a preposition) – properly, into (unto) – literally, "motion into which" implying penetration ("unto," "union") to a particular purpose or result.
STEADFASTNESS: 5281 hypomonḗ (from 5259 /hypó, "under" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, endure") – properly, remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life.
We’ve been looking at how to respond to our testing in life and all our instructions from the word end in the one place, our verse today highlights being found in union with the love of God. In this union, we let nothing separate us from the love God holds for us.
The early church lived in adverse circumstances that the North American church has not yet experienced. We are not “the” persecuted church as seen in many other nations. It does not cost us our property, money, or lives to acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord. There will be a day when all nations - which includes North America - will hate us because we identify ourselves as Christians.
The early church lived with the expectation they would be alive when Jesus came back. I’ve often thought I could endure anything if I knew the press only lasted so long. I’m sure there were many believers who felt the same way only to have this challenged as they aged and watched life become more tenuous. We never know what is in us until it is tested and proven. Which is why we have so many exhortations from the word to endure. So many examples, over and over again, that have been written for to us to know this is not a strange thing- when it happens.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.…1 Peter 4
Be mindful that when Peter wrote this he was reminding all, that the revelation of the glory of Christ is what empowers them in the midst of testing. Paul exclaims to the Romans, NO! in all these things we have complete victory through Him who loved us. Romans 8:39. Nothing and no one can separate us from His love.
By the time we move to the book of Revelation we find a church who shows many positive acts INCLUDING steadfast endurance, yet they have left their first love. They are noted by Jesus to have persisted steadfastly and have not grown weary but in leaving (the Greek word actual indicates “to give up”) their first love, these believers have fallen from a ‘high state’, NET translation and repentance is required.
This always troubles me, because we can do so many right things, yet still be judged by God lacking, with further repentance required to make ourselves right. In all that was right in doings, their heart condition was still wrong.
God looks at the heart. This is the one thing we are charged to guard with all diligence. Watching. Examining, for anything that would alter our absolute trust in His truth concerning HIS great love, for us, to us, in us, for others.
Could it be, that my heart in union with His love is the key for me to duplicate the steadfastness of Christ? Could it be, that my heart in union with His love enables me to keep moving forward? Could it be that in and through all things, our union with HIS love compels us? I would say yes.