The Road into Love and Patience

By Ron Bartanen “The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)     Have you ever found yourself in unfamiliar territory, unsure of what road to turn on to get to your desired destination? If so, join the crowd.  While it is disturbing to be in such a predicament, it is tragic to be spiritually confused, uncertain of what lies ahead.  This can be the plight even of Christians who have begun the journey on the Christian Way, as indicated by Paul in writing to the believers in Thessalonica whom he has commended for their “faith and patience” while enduring persecution (1:4).       While Paul is obviously not denying their love for God, or their patient endurance, yet he saw the need to desire for them divine direction into both.  Were they not already in the love of God and patience? Yes, and no.  To illustrate, a man may take a plane from London to New York City, and may phone his family, informing them that he is now in the United States.  However, as a Midwesterner I would say he needs to leave NYC, and go on into the United States because there’s a lot more to see than what NYC can offer.  When we come in to the love of God, we do not stop our journey.  It’s then just begun.     How extensive is the love of God? One of our songs expresses it in these words: “The love of God is greater far,/Than tongue or pen can ever tell:/It goes beyond the highest star,/And reaches to the lowest hell.:”  In the storms of life, God would direct us into the sanctuary of His love.     Likewise, the “patient waiting for Christ” does not end when one rises from the waters of baptism.  We do not sit down, gazing into the clouds as we await His return for us.  Jesus warns His followers to not be found sleeping at His coming (Matt. 24:36), but faithful in watching and praying, even as tribulation in the world worsens, saying, “Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).      The road into the love of God and the patient waiting for Christ will not end until that day we stand in His presence.  Are you letting Him lead you into His love and steadfast patience?

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com