Direct Love

II Thessalonians 3:5 - May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

I’m not sure I remember reading this verse, or at least I didn't realize what it said.

We all love to hear the first part about God’s love. We want our hearts to be wrapped in his love, so that we feel secure, we feel wanted, and we feel taken care of.  God’s love surpasses any kind of human love out there, and knowing we are loved by him settles all kinds of turmoil in the heart.

However, the second part of the verse comes right after being directed into God’s love.  It then says into Christ’s perseverance.

That part doesn’t sound so enticing.  Persevering implies hard times.  It implies pushing through.  It implies facing difficulty with no success in sight.

When we are directed into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance, we are being invited to share in the same relationship Christ had with his father.  Because of the father’s great love, Christ came to earth to die, knowing full well that his father loved him and would enable him to obey him in the most difficult task ever performed.

Whatever you’re facing today, you’re being directed, invited, and enticed to come to God’s love.  When you receive his love, you can persevere through any storm, ride high above any waves, and come to rest safely, alive and well.