A kingly prayer — Lee Wimberly, MD

Toward the end of his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul offers a gracious prayer:

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. — 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Paul entreats the Lord Jesus to direct our hearts toward a particular disposition, and it is one greatly to be desired. We do well to join Paul in petitioning our Lord to direct our hearts toward this very thing, and to direct the hearts of other believers there as well. And where is this blessed place that our hearts, following the direction of Christ, should lead us? To a position of love. And not just any love: it is the matchless love of God. This is not to be our casual or occasional way of relating to others. We ought to love as God loves, and to do so as steadfastly as did Christ himself.

Paul’s words echo the very beautiful prayer of King David, when the Israelites had freely and willingly brought many gifts for the building of God’s temple:

O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. — 1 Chronicles 29:18

Our hearts are very fickle. We sometimes thirst for the things of God, and chase hard after him, but we are so easily distracted by the concerns of this world. In an instant, we may forget our high calling and set our affections on some unworthy trinket instead. When David prayed, it was with a heart full of joy, because the people “had given willingly,” and “with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord.” The willingness of the people brought joy to the king. He did not desire their gifts for his own glory; he rejoiced in their willingness to return to God those things that were his to begin with. He prayed:

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. — 1 Chronicles 29:14

David did not rejoice in himself for a moment, nor in the wealth of those who had brought their gifts. He rejoiced in the great generosity of his God, who had provided it all, and in the faithfulness of the people to acknowledge their riches as God’s own, and freely consecrate them for his purposes. Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians — and ultimately, for us as well — is offered in the same spirit. David asked God to keep the hearts of his people directed toward him. Paul asks the same.

When we love with the love of God, we have found nothing to boast in. We may well hope to love lavishly, with great generosity of spirit. But when we do so, we are only demonstrating the riches of God’s own surpassing love. We do not produce such love from any storehouse within ourselves; it is his love, expressed through us. We do best when this is our constant demeanor, and such is not of ourselves either. We must love with the steadfastness of Christ. David asked God to keep the hearts of Israel directed toward him, for the king knew the people could not persevere by their own strength. Paul knew the same. If we love in accordance with our own steadfastness, we will love little. Paul’s prayer is that we might love much; and this is only ever a result of Christ’s own work within us.

May we ever love with the love of God, and may we always do so with the steadfastness of Christ. When we make this offering richly and freely, we follow in the path of the faithful for long ages past. Like ancient Israel, we too may bring joy to the heart of our King. And by our offerings, his dwelling place is built indeed.

Yes, may it ever be.