My heart asks, “Which way is love?”
2 Thess. 3:5, “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
How does He direct our hearts? HE IS PEACE, Eph. 2:14. I believe this peace umpires1 our hearts. What do we have peace from? We have peace form the guilt and penalty of the law or self-imposed law. The unveiled truth of His love is shed abroad in our hearts. His love drives out, removes and thrusts away fear. Fear cannot dwell with His perfect love. Darkness cannot comprehend His light in us. We have peace because He has purged our conscience from dead works and self-imposed law.
I am reminded of 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” The word “anxiety” means to be drawn in different directions.” Self-imposed law can draw us into different directions, become a hindrance, and misdirect us from justification by His faith in us.
The Spirit of Truth and unction guides us John 16:13, 1 John 2:20. Christ reveals Himself inside of us.
The word direct is κατευθύνω kateuthynō. It means: “To make straight, guide, direct. Of the removal of the hindrances to coming to one.” I believe hindrances are the things of the old nature that we grow out of or are brought to light by sanctifying work of the Spirit of the Lord, Titus 3:5. The “directing” by the Lord in the Greek is intrinsic in our new nature in Him.
1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
So, it seems as we grow in the grace and knowledge if Him, 2 Pet. 3:18, we grow in His love which directs our hearts. This love is a choice compelled, motivated and empowered by His grace and willingness. Paul said, “Christ’s love compels us”, (NIV) 2 Cor. 5:14.
His is our willingness.
His love is shed abroad in our hearts2.
Patience is ὑπομονή hypomonē. It literally means, “abiding under”. We are under grace, Rom. 6:14, and not law or the self-imposed law in our hearts.
Paraphrase, “The Lord by His grace, through revelation of Him in you, clear and absolve all hindrances and direct you into His love shedding abroad in your hearts by the Holy Spirit and into His patience abiding in thoughts without fear2.”
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