1 Thessalonians 3:11

“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you”

“May”: Notice that Paul does not shout orders at the Creator. In view of his desire to see them, their love for him and their need of spiritual growth, Paul feels that this is. very reasonable request. “Our God and Father”: Emphasizing the truth that Paul and the Thessalonians are brethren, adopted children of the same Father. “Himself”: God is. personal being, and not. force or mere influence. “And our Lord Jesus”: “The close collocation of God and Jesus in the prayer indicates that for Paul they are thought of as working together in unity” (Marshall p. 100). Notice how Paul places Jesus on equal footing with the Father. The verse infers that Jesus also answers our prayers and also governs and can manipulate the providential happenings in our world. This verse also emphasizes the truth that God still rules (Daniel 5:21). Carefully note that Paul does not act as if God is in subjection to him. Modern religious groups often tell people to pray and it will happen. Paul was not caught up in such arrogance. Paul always realized that God was God and he was not. He prayed with faith, but he also prayed with humility, letting God know that he would serve God regardless of the outcome of his prayers.

“Direct”: To guide from. word that means to “straighten fully”: “There follows. wish in the form of. prayer, that God will ‘make straight' or level the way which Satan has cut up, or remove the obstacles with which he has strewn it (1 Thessalonians 2:18)” (Stott p. 67). Paul refused to be intimidated by Satan. When it came to evil, he was defiant. He would not cave in or give up. He realized that the prayer of. righteous man were. tremendous weapon against whatever hindrances the Devil might place in the progress of the gospel. Barclay notes, “It is to God that Paul turned for guidance in the ordinary day to day problems of life. One of the great and grave mistakes of life is to turn to God only in the great moments and the overpowering emergencies and the shattering crises. We use God to try to achieve. God-rescued life; Paul companied with God to achieve. God-directed life” (pp. 228-229). About five years from when this letter is written, this request will be fully answered when Paul is able to visit Macedonia twice towards the end of his third journey (Acts 20:1).