Domestic Reflections

 

We write stories not just with our pens, but with our lives.

In even the fragrances of home, we are the aroma of Christ to God.

All of life is story; all of story is home.

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest (Isaiah 32:18 NIV).

Why Did Jesus Tell Judas to be Quick?

 

In school, I've been studying the book of John and was given an interesting question to answer. At the Last Supper, John asks Jesus who is going to betray Him, and Jesus says, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish" (John 13:26 NIV). Jesus then dips the bread and gives it to Judas Iscariot, and as soon as Judas takes it, Satan enters into him. Immediately, Jesus says to him, "What you are about to do, do quickly" (v. 27). 

Why does Jesus tell Judas to be quick? 

As the passage continues, we find out the disciples had no idea why He said this, either--reassuring to those of us today who might be scratching our heads. Some thought he was telling Judas to buy the supplies for Passover, since Judas had charge of the money bag, or to make a donation to the poor. But that addresses what they thought Judas was going to do, not how he was instructed to do it. (It also reveals how little idea Jesus' inner circle had that Judas was a potential turncoat. When Jesus said He would be betrayed, nobody fingered Judas for even a moment. This helps explain our shock when prominent church members today are caught in various sins. Jesus Himself said, as did Paul, there would be false prophets and teachers among us, appearing to be sheep but really being ravenous wolves. They do infiltrate the church, and we should be saddened but not shocked or disillusioned when sometimes they are exposed.) 

So why did Jesus tell Judas to be quick? 

There's one school of thought that says, "Mainly because the clock was counting down." Jesus' body would have to be down from the cross and laid in the tomb in twenty-four hours or less, before the Sabbath started, but his legs could not be broken to hasten His death. Death by crucifixion was a slow process, and Judas would have to travel to the high priest's house, assemble a crowd of men, and lead everyone to the garden before Jesus could even be arrested, much less transported to the high priest, then to Pilate, sentenced, and marched to Golgotha. If Judas delayed even a little, this theory goes, the likelihood that a crucified man could die in the prescribed window of time without having his legs broken would be very questionable. 

But this doesn't sit right with me. I don't think Jesus was worried that time might expire. When had He ever been concerned with hurry? A better question is, when had He ever doubted God's plan would work perfectly? "Oops" has no place in God's vocabulary, then or now. I don't think Jesus was saying, "This whole thing could fall apart if you don't get on the stick!" 

So why did Jesus tell Judas to be quick?

I'm not sure the Greek word tachion adds much nuance. It means "quickly," "swiftly," "shortly," or "sooner," though I'm tempted to conclude that the emphasis is more on "Do it now" than "Do it fast." Immediacy more than speed, in other words. It's been pointed out that since Satan enters Judas and completely controls him just before Jesus gives this order, Jesus is addressing Satan more than Judas, and I would tend to agree. Satan and his minions obey both the Father and the Son (Matthew 4:10-11; Job 1:6-12 and 2:1-7; Mark 5:10-13; Rev. 12:9-12, to name a few passages), so once Jesus says "Do it quickly," that's what happens. 

Perhaps the most satisfying or persuasive answer is that since Judas has now made an irrevocable choice to say No to Jesus, there is no point in any more delay and there is no stoppage of the consequences. God is incredibly patient with us, but there comes a point when the Spirit of God will not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3); there comes a point, in the Valley of Decision, when that decision must be made; and there comes a time in any finite life when the No we say to God becomes our final No. Then, whether the consequences manifest right now or down the road a way, they do come immediately. 

They come quickly.

The Best Time to be Alive

Have you ever felt like the most exciting, dynamic life with God must have been lived by people of the past? This probably isn't the kind of thought most of us admit to others, but I'd be surprised if it weren't quite prevalent. 

Think of the OT patriarchs who heard God's voice, saw burning bushes, and received angelic visitations and prophetic declarations. Think of those who lived at the time of Jesus, walking with Him in the flesh, being healed by Him, watching Him heal others, hanging on His every word as He taught the crowds. Think of the baby church, working miracles by the Holy Spirit, being translated from here to there for the purpose of ministry like Philip the evangelist, healing people just by walking along and having your shadow fall on them. 

And what do we have today? Prayer and an ancient book. 

In an age when precious few folks are even readers anymore. 

So is that it, then? We read (or listen) to stories of those who actually had relationship with God, back when God interacted with people? We pray as best we can and hope there might someday be a change in circumstances--maybe? No, of course that's not it. But that's how it seems to many of us. Far too many of us live like that. I lived like that. 

No doubt it's the adversary who'd like us to believe we live in the worst of times. That we are the people God holds at a distance. But the truth is we live in the best of times! We have the completed canon of God-breathed Scripture. In almost every language on the face of the earth, many of those languages with multiple versions. In broadcasts, podcasts, webcasts, downloads, apps, videos, and blogs. The living word. 

Those earlier eras never had that. The partial word, yes; the works-in-progress, yes; but never the complete word. That's God's provision specifically to us. 

And we have the Holy Spirit living inside our born-again spirits. Not just theoretically or theologically. For real. First, the indwelling that began with the risen Jesus breathing on His disciples in the upper room, and then the baptism for power to minister that was first released at Pentecost. 

Those earlier eras never had that. The Holy Spirit temporarily came upon people, yes; but He didn't make His home inside them permanently. That's God's presence specifically with us.

We have the living word (Bible); the living Word (Jesus), the ultimate sacrifice Who completely fulfilled the law so sacrifice could cease; and the Holy Spirit living inside us to comfort, teach, convict, and guide. We have the things even angels long to look into (1 Peter 1:12).

And we have the successful evangelizing efforts of the 120 in the upper room, who turned the world upside down, backing us up. We didn't have to lay that groundwork. It was done before we got the baton.

People say the world is getting darker; they're not wrong. But for those walking in the light, it's the best time to be alive.

Not by Bread Alone

Yet by bread when bread is needed. 

And not by bread alone, but by drink, and flowers, and pretty things.

Because the Holy Spirit has made our bodies His temple (1 Cor. 6:19), and the Greek word for "temple" in this verse is naos, meaning "highly decorated shrine." 

I, and you, if you are in Christ, have highly decorated shrines inside us, our born-again spirits a permanent home grand enough to be a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit of God.

And until we see the unimaginable beauty of our own permanent home, we celebrate here, in our impermanent flesh, with the beauty of impermanent things. A joyful foretaste of the beauty to come.

Prayer For Those Who Didn't Know

Lord, there was a tragedy somewhere today. More than one, on the face of this earth. 

Maybe it made the news. Even if not, it was big news to those involved. They got up this morning and expected a normal day. Maybe even an exciting one. They had no idea one or more of their closest loved ones had gotten up this morning for the last time. Would not be here tonight to go to bed. Ever again. That today would break life in two: Before, and After. And After is something they can't imagine, or imagine getting through. Or imagine having meaning. 

Lord, send them people who've known the same pain. Who can mourn with them and then comfort them with the comfort they themselves received from You. Send them people who can anticipate their needs without them having to say a word. Send them people who can pick up the practical slack so they need do nothing except freefall into Your arms. Send them peace that passes understanding, which we cannot grasp precisely because it passes understanding. Yet we know it must be real because we know You. 

Send them You.

Lord, there was a salvation somewhere today. More than one--many more than one--on the face of the earth.

This has already made the news; not on TV, but in Heaven, as there's rejoicing in the presence of the angels when even one sinner repents. Lord, it doesn't say angels rejoice, as we often interpret it; it says there's rejoicing in their presence. Father, this means You're the one rejoicing, doesn't it? Most if not all these new creatures got up this morning expecting a normal day. Because I think that's often how true conversions happen: they aren't planned. One is struck, in a moment, by the tragedy and hopelessness of their sin. They had no idea their old self had gotten up this morning for the last time. Would not be here to go to bed tonight. Ever again. That today would break life in two: Before, and After. And After is something they can't imagine, because they don't know what they're in for. Love; cost. Fellowship; persecution. Provision; warfare. Call; change.

Life eternal. Not as opposed to nothingness, but as opposed to hell, because if we aren't in our natural state bound for hell, then Christ died for nothing. Lord, please grant that fewer people would be persuaded to lie to themselves that there is no hell.

Lord, there was a death somewhere today. Many, many deaths on the face of the earth.

This is literal "news"--new existence for these ones, irrevocably new, whether an expected death or not. Some will have had no idea they'd gotten up this morning for the last time. Would not be here tonight to go to bed. Ever again. That today would break life in two: Earthly life, and Eternity. 

Lord, send their people what we've already asked: company, fellowship, comfort, help, peace, You. 

Yet for that one who has passed, there is no prayer. Their eternal destiny is set. For some of them, on a day they thought would be like any other.

Father, You warn that tonight our lives may be required of us. Draw them, I pray, by the hundreds and thousands and ten thousands, to Your Son Jesus, because though time is a dimension we live in now, it is not something we have. For those who don't know--and in some aspects of life, that's all of us--help many, many more of us understand that in the very broadest, most important, and eternal sense, no matter what we don't know, everything will be all right if (and only if) what we do know--is You. 

Wisdom

The Lord by His wisdom has founded the earth. Who are we, that He would allow us, much less exhort us, to seek any measure of this wisdom for ourselves, and then reward us when we gain it? (Inspired by Proverbs 3) 

In Which TUS Returns to College!

 You know, my life is fairly predictable. I like the rhythms of simple days ("make it your ambition to lead a quiet life," 1 Thess. 4:11, is a verse that makes me smile), and I can honestly say that very little has happened in my life so far to throw me for a major loop or send me spiraling in whole new directions. Other than, of course, meeting Jesus at the age of 27. 

Recently, though, I got an entirely unexpected chance to go back to school. 

From time to time, I'd thought about a master's degree, but I never thought it would happen and didn't particularly care. I mean, how would I ever afford it, when would I have the time, what job would it lead to, who'd mind the kids, and what would I even study? Every year my recall of my BS math curriculum faded a little more, and the idea of an MBA to build on my second major (business) left me cold. And speaking of cold, the cold hard fact is that I'm not terribly career oriented and never have been. At least, not in the wear-work-clothes, leave-the-house, make-a-meaningful-salary way. In the write-teach-edit-from-home, sketchy-income way, things worked well enough. 

But this past spring, God spoke. 

Opportunity and finances aligned. There will be no debt accumulation; I wouldn't do this if there were. I won't be obliged to seek employment to earn my investment back (as if I'd get hired at my age); I wouldn't do this if I were. This will be, in the broadest sense, equipping for personal ministry. Put another way, some people travel in their dotage; perhaps TUS goes to school.

I asked the Lord if just kind of wanting a master's degree for the sake of having one was reason enough to pursue it. He said, immediately, "Just entering a master's program at your age will be a conversation starter." And that is already proving true. Over the following couple of months, He opened my mind to understand that the people I'll most often be led to will be the type of people who respect a degree. 

So, tonight is my first class! If all goes as planned, I should graduate in spring 2027 with a BA in biblical studies, and with the MA in spring 2029.

And perhaps the takeaway here is that no matter what decade of life you're in, no matter how steady your life has been, that doesn't mean God won't step in and shake it up with something you never expected, or wake up a thought you'd long since put to bed. As long as we're still here and breathing, He's not done with us yet.   

Inspired by the Inspired

 

God inspired Scripture so perfectly that it is perfect. 

Paul wrote to Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately--behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17, AMP 2015). I like how the Amplified expands on what Scripture accomplishes, but the two main points are (a) all Scripture is from God, and (b) Scripture is sufficient to equip us for every good work. Is it exhaustive of all knowledge? No; for example, it won't substitute for an auto mechanic's manual, nor is it even a complete record of everything Jesus did, as John directly states (John 21:25). It won't teach me how to troubleshoot my WiFi, but it will teach me what attitude to take while doing so. What the verses are saying is that the book we call the Bible can fully counsel us on how to relate to others, worship God, or handle any dilemma, with Godly character. Whatever we're facing, there's hope, direction, encouragement, discipline, or guidance for us somewhere in its pages. 

Rabbit trail alert: Some months ago I was asked how we know the Bible is true. Well, it's not unlike how we know God is God. If anything outside of God needed to verify God, then would God be God? No--that other thing, that verifying party or accrediting body, would be God. In a group I was in, someone once asked, in all seriousness, "Who made God?" But it's a nonsensical question. If someone made God, then that maker is the real God, and if someone made that maker, then that maker is the real God, and...you see the issue. God is self-existent because by definition He has to be. Similarly with His word, which is an extension of Him. But didn't men write the Bible? Yes, as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). But didn't some committee decide which books (and authors) belonged and which didn't? Yes, but if the Holy Spirit can inspire the writings in the first place, and then decide not to inspire the compiling of the canon, does that make any sense? No; what's operating here is our sneaking lack of faith that says this time, for sure, God dropped the ball. Besides, since the OT was established before Jesus' day, we have the Messiah signing off on that portion, and since Peter calls Paul's writings Scripture as early as 64-66 AD (2 Peter 3:16), that covers the majority of the NT epistles as well.

Let me veer back to my point. If the Holy Spirit inspired select human writers so well that they wrote God's word perfectly in the original languages, if these men had such a personal relationship with the Father, either knowing Jesus (NT) or looking ahead to Jesus (OT), that they could be carried along by the Holy Spirit to the point they were pure, clear vessels in His hand, nothing more and nothing less--what does that mean for us? If we pursue our relationship with Jesus to the uttermost, how much closer can we come to doing works for Him that are undistorted? To getting out of our own way and His, becoming nothing but that dedicated instrument, so that what's produced is all Him? And, since He's the one doing it through us, completely in His will for us? To me, that sounds a lot like losing your life to save it. What if we pray, "Lord, bring me to a place where I can be carried along by the Holy Spirit to complete Your assignment with undistorted results"? 

I'm going to. Join me? 

Summer

 

Too soon the summer's over, so they say;

pack shorts and swimsuits up and put away.

"It's fall," they say, convinced this thing is true,

though temperatures are stuck at eighty-two.

The seasons of our lives should not be rushed,

lest God be missed, his Holy Spirit hushed.

Consult your calendar and rightly reckon:

it lasts until September twenty-second.