Direct

Greek Word Pronunciation: kat-eu-THU-no
Strong's Number: 2720
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 2985
Key Verse: “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” -- 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Kateuthuno is a compound word, comprise of kata, meaning “down,” and euthuno, meaning “to straighten.” The idea is that of conducting one straight to a place, and not by a round-about course. Euthuno is found in John 1:23, “make straight the way of the Lord” and James 3:4, regarding the ships directed by a “rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot [literally, the one steering] desires.”

Kateuthuno appears only 3 times in the New Testament. In Luke 1:79, John the Baptist's father, Zacharias, who prophesied by quoting from Isaiah 9:2. This referred to Christ Who would “guide our feet into the way of peace.” Christ came to make peace for us, by the blood of His cross; and so by His Spirit and word, lead us directly into the true way of enjoying spiritual peace here, and eternal peace hereafter.

In 1 Thessalonians 3:11, Paul prayed, “Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you.” Paul’s prayer is that God would remove all obstacles so that he could come directly to them. The apostle was aware that there were obstacles in his way of coming to Thessalonica, for he had attempted it before, but Satan, and his emissaries, hindered. Therefore, he desires that God and Christ would remove them out of the way, and make his way straight and plain.

In the key verse, 2 THESSALONIANS 3:5, Paul prayed, “May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” The heart is irregular in all its workings. God alone, by His Spirit, can direct it into His love, and keep it right. He gives a proper direction to all its passions, and keep them in order, regularity and purity.