“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
Kids will tell you that they have seen old movies where paper street maps were being used for directions, and note how inconvenient it must have been. They have no idea! I remember being lost somewhere northwest of Atlanta years ago. It was dark, raining, and getting late. And to make things worse, the font size of the street names in the book were for eyes younger than mine. Naturally, I am grateful for the advent of the Smartphone.
The heart needs direction too. How many times have we found ourselves parked off on some side street of doubt wondering which way to go? Satan is very good at guiding us into sin, and always will be. God does not lead us into temptation, we go down that road on our own.
When the devil begins to lead you into temptation you must “flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Those who have pure hearts are to be your fellow travellers. They make sure that the Word of God keeps you on track, so you will pray:
“With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments” (Psalm 119:10).
The Bible has many functions on this journey to heaven. Its chief purpose is to guide our hearts into the love of God. There we enjoy fellowship with Jesus and the church and have our hearts trained for service. Our hard and misguided hearts are replaced with hearts strengthened by grace.
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
John Staiger
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