The alarm rings . . . Yawn . . . already? Drifting . . . . zzzz . . . wait! Eyes fly open and close quickly. What time is it? Rub eyes . . . it is morning. Hmmm . . . is it Good morning, Lord! or good lord, morning! Alarm clocks have brash sounds (if they are really going to wake you up!) that seem to bury deep into the psyche.
Time . . .everything is about time. It’s all about schedules or keeping up with the “to do” list. It feels like there’s never enough of it, but if, by chance it is enjoyed, guilt seems to push out the enjoyment with a pile of “shoulds”. Sounds pretty jaded, eh?
Are you settled comfortably with how you spend your time? If we all get 24 hours, then we all start out at the gate on equal footing. That seems fair enough. Those of us who name Jesus as Lord find we have A Source to whom we must go for direction of those 24 hours. Not only are we to number our days (Ps 50:12), but we also are challenged to live purposefully. We are challenged not to merely wander through our 24 hours letting time happen to us, but we are to “redeem” (make the most of) the time given us (Ephesians 5:15-16). There’s a directive of wisdom given us to be careful about our use of time. How is that working out for you?
There are a couple of different Greek words for “time”. One kind of time is the moment by moment passing of minutes; it’s called “chronos" time. Chronology is the word we use for the logical minute by minute passing of time. Another word for “time” is “kairos”. This kind of time is a very specific moment that stands out from the rest. Paul had a “kairos” moment on the road to Damascus. Have you ever experienced a “moment” with God about which you still think even though it may have happened some time ago? That was a “kairos” moment. Those are the times when God broke in on your “chronos” time and spoke His heart to you. You remember it. You knew it was Him. When that moment is gone, you feel a little hollow – something is missing. We know He is always with us (at least at a head level), but those amazing times when He steps from His timeless dimension into our chronological orderings leave us changed. What if we measured time between “kairos” moments rather than “chronos” moments? What if we could listen so closely to Him that we experience the “kairos” moments closer together? What would you do for those kinds of moments?
Maybe Kingdom time is not about “to do” lists or a pile of “shoulds” for God. Maybe Kingdom time encompasses those measures of moments leaning into the Father and Him whispering His heart to us. Is this a picture of “redeeming the time” given to us? Oh my! Until you’ve experienced those measures of moments with Him, you will reach for the lesser fulfillments of Earth. Until the God of “kairos” moments meets you in your “chronos” measurements, you will only fill your 24 hours with the things of Earth. The more you experience the “kairos” moments, the more you will hunger for Him.
What will you do with the next 24 hours?
If you lean into Him, do you think He might open to you His measured moments?
Father, I love to spend time with You. Sometimes my day gets away from me before I realize it. Yes, there are demands for my time. Yes, I waste it too. I repent. Just like the Psalmist, I long for You. You are water to my soul. I want to listen for you today for those special measured moments that are just between You and me. Break in on my day. . . I will listen for You . . . .
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