2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. I. THE LOVE OF GOD is employed in three senses — God's love to us; our love to Him; and Divine love in us, i.e., a love like God's. The latter is probably the meaning here. What then is God's love? And may the Divine Spirit direct us into the enjoyment of it. God's love is — 1. The very Being of God; and when love is the supreme and dominating motive and energy in us, swaying all the powers and manifesting itself to the utmost, we are directed into the love of God. 2. Comprehensive: it knows no limit. So our love, if Divine, will not be fettered by circumstances or the character of the objects. Like God's, it will be discriminating, and discern differences in moral character, but it will seek the good of all. 3. Unstinting. God gave His only-begotten Son — this is the characteristic of true love everywhere. It never calculates the cost, and when the best is done there is the willingness to do more. 4. Constant in its manifestation: it never wearies or ceases: And Divine love in man knows no discouragement, is baffled by no obstacles, succumbs to no injury. II. THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST — a patience like Christ's. How much this is needed is shown by the fact that Christ our example was and is patient, and taught patience by word and life. 1. To understand this we must travel beyond the millenniums to the foundation of the world when, the Lamb to be slain was foreordained for sacrifice. Then over the long centuries during which sin held sway when the Son was waiting for the fulness of time. And then during that earthly life in which he endured unimaginable suffering waiting for the accomplishment of His baptism. Then waiting for Pentecost; and now waiting with unwearied patience until those in Christian countries who are resisting the Spirit shall yield, and those in heathen lands shall own His sway, and those who profess to be His people shall consecrate themselves wholly to His work. 2. It is a patience something like that we want. And if Christ can afford to work and wait, surely we can. What are you? A Sunday school teacher? A preacher? A church officer? Working, praying, your heart discouraged, and sometimes ready to question whether the glad day will ever dawn? He can be patient; be patient with Him and like Him. The counsel of the Lord, it shall stand. (G. W. Olver, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.WEB: May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ. |
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