“Be strong and courageous.” Meditate on God’s word day and night. Don’t be frightened, for God is with you wherever you go. “I will not leave you or forsake you.” The words of the angel to Joshua are equally applicable to us today.
Much like Israel’s many battles fought to enter the promised land, we have many battles to fight. Just as the Thessalonians, who became imitators of Paul and Jesus in order to fight those battles, so must we. The Thessalonians were great examples of faith, whose reputation went throughout Macedonia and Achaia. They “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” We are similarly called to be witnesses of the hope available through Christ. Let’s do the same as Paul, encouraging and exhorting one another to “walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.“