Joshua 16, Psalm 150, 2 Thessalonians 2

Ephraim and Manassah, the tribes named for the sons of Joseph, had overlapping territory since the cities for Ephraim were in the land of Manasseh. Ephraim included Bethel and Luz, the sites famous for their significance in Jacob's life. Do your children know the landmarks of your spiritual heritage? Do you tell stories to be handed down of what God has done? Jacob told his stories, and so when these tribes inherited the cities, they could gain courage for their own battles from him.

When we praise the Lord for His mighty acts, it inspires praise for everything else. And praise tells our stories.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians of a truth he had already taught them. (See verse 5.) They were nervous and shaken by what someone else said. Hearing the truth over and over is reassuring when we are frightened or unsure. Paul tells them to "stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle." (v. 15)

Just as it was important then, it is important now to not only "stand fast and hold on" ourselves, but to hand down to our children and grandchildren the faith stories they can hold on to.

Joshua 13, Psalm 147, 1 Thessalonians 4

Joshua was old and had fought many battles for control of cities in the Promised Land. But God said, "There remains very much land yet to be conquered." I wonder how it felt to hear those words and know they were true. Yet I do hear them every day. "So much to do and so little time." The victories of my past are, indeed, past. I have to look forward. God also told Joshua to go ahead and divide the land among the tribes so they would know where their inheritance lay. Chapter 13 details what had already been conquered east of the Jordan.

Seeing at least part of the dream already come true and settled surely must have motivated the warriors to keep fighting for the rest. So take time to savor your victories thus far--but not too much. Remember them, then move on. Go take the rest of your inheritance.

"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those whose hope is His mercy." (Psalm 147:11) This is the key to victory and ultimate peace. It is the Lord who does all the great things listed in this Psalm, not a man or woman. (See verse 10) We can trust Him to provide. And then we need to praise HIm for having done so.

If we want to know how to live in the "land" the Lord has given us, how to act as occupiers, 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us.

1. Remain sexually pure. In those days and in these, it is exceedingly difficult to stay pure. Not only does temptation abound, but so does social acceptance of any sort of deviant behavior. This point is crucial, however.
2. Lead a quiet life. Work to support yourself and love your fellow Christians. This means minding your own business! Paul did actually say those words.
3. Keep the end in mind. Peace comes from knowing how the story ends.

Joshua knew how it would end, David knew, and Paul knew. We do, too.

Joshua 11, Psalm 145, 1 Thessalonians 2

The last battle Joshua fought may have been the most intimidating to him as he faced it. The enemy army was "as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude . . ." (verse4). Why was Joshua anxious? One might think each victory would make the following battle easier for him. But when God begins to work, the enemy realizes things are serious and goes to work, too. Each battle thus becomes more intense than preceding ones. However, what Joshua and his army knew from experience was that God would win. He was their General. Only this certainty could have given them the courage they needed to fight.

We have the same certainty. And we also face escalating battles as God's victories become more numerous in our lives. But this chapter ends with the end of wars. Peace came when all the enemies were dead. We are headed toward an end of wars, too. Heaven is our reward for fighting until the last enemy is dead. But we have to remember Who our General is so we will ". . . not be afraid of them . . ." (verse 6).

Psalm 145 describes the peace after wars are over. God is the Victor and His kingdom is glorious. It is also the description of the warrior's heart. Calm can reign in the middle of chaos because of what the Lord has done. This is where our mental and spiritual focus needs to be.

Joshua and his army took the spoils of war for themselves--gold, silver, precious gems. Paul tells the Thessalonians that he has fought battles, a war even, to tell them the gospel and that they are the spoils of war for him, the great reward.

This is why we fight--to win souls who will be our joy, our "crown of rejoicing" when they are "in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming." (verse 19)