Joshua 15, Psalm 149, 2 Thessalonians 1

Joshua 15 details the borders, and cities within them, that outlined the land Judah would inherit. This was a huge area and included the city of Jerusalem. It was up to the people to take the land for themselves. Caleb's land lay in part of this area and he drove out three real giants. He put muscle where his mouth was. He acted on the faith he had already verbalized. Faith is only as good as the actions based on it. Faith is the glove on the hand.

Judah was not able to drive out the inhabitants of Jerusalem with the result that they had to share space. The Bible gives no reason for this failure, nor does it outline specific, serious consequences. The situation apparently was simply not as ideal as it could have been. The Judah-ites may never have known what could have been. When we fail to act in full faith, we miss opportunity and may never even realize it. But that doesn't excuse our failure or negate it. God knows.

Psalm 149 describes the pairing of faith with action a little bit differently. When the people are full of praise and worship, when their joy overflows, then they are prepared to go out with the sword. "This honor have all His saints." This verse (9) refers to us even now. Verse 3 describes being filled up completely with praise; our bodies overflow with it in dance and song. Only at this point do we have what we need to fight and win. I believe this describes the filling of the Holy Spirit and the power He provides.

Here is another example of faith and working power. The Thessalonian Christians suffered persecution, but Paul reminds them of the power of God  to overcome and destroy enemies. It is Jesus Christ who actually does it for us. We just have to engage.

Verse 11: " . . . That our God would . . . fulfill . . . the work of faith with power."

Joshua 1, Psalm 135, Ephesians 6

After Moses died, Joshua stepped into the leadership role as a military leader. The Lord told Joshua it was time to go in and possess the Promised Land and also promised to go with the people as they fought for it.

This Psalm is a praise to the Lord for keeping His promise to His people. He delivered them from Egypt and settled them in the land He gave them. He is the only true God.

Just as Joshua became a military leader and led the people to fight for their land, we also are in a battle for our land. Our land is our minds and God is with us to help us fight in the power of the Holy Spirit. He provides our armor and weapons, but He actually wins, defeating the enemy for us. (Col. 2:15)

Just as Psalms 135 records the victory from Joshua, Colossians 2:15 records the victory from Ephesians 6.

Deuteronomy 33, Ps. 133, Ephesians 4

Just as Moses blessed each of the tribes before his death and told them what a good thing it was to belong to the Lord, we as Christians have that same blessing. We, too, are a people "saved by the Lord" and our enemies will submit to us and we will "tread down their high places" because of the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.

"How good and how pleasant it is" not only to be saved by the Lord, but to dwell together in unity. Christianity is not merely an individual, solitary life, although it certainly begins with God and me alone. The instant I stepped into a relationship with my Heavenly Father, I also began a relationship with His other children--my brothers and sisters. Despite the human propensity for sibling rivalry, it is good, the Psalmist reminds us, to live in unity and harmony!

And so, Paul found it necessary to instruct further, more specifically, on the topic of unity. We do need to remember that we all have the same Heavenly Father and the same Spirit living in us. But as Moses gave a unique blessing upon each of the tribes, emphasizing how God would use them--Levi to minister in the tabernacle, Judah to be a warrior, Asher to be strong, Benjamin to rest in the Lord, Gad to administer justice, Reuben to multiply in the land, and so on--similarly, Jesus Christ gives each of His children, you and me, grace gifts. We know them as spiritual gifts. It's important for us to live out these gifts for the building up of the body, the church. And it's also important to live in a way that pleases Christ.

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32