Pauses for Lent Day 14
Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson
Day 14 Word: TIME
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.” Mark 1:15
The Greek New Testament uses two words for time: Chronos and kairos. The first word refers to clock time, chronological time. This is time measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. We refer to Chronos when we ask someone, “What time is it?”
The second word, kairos, refers to God’s time, time in the sense of divine destiny. Jesus often speaks of time in this way - “The time is fulfilled,” “My hour has not yet come,” or “The time is coming when…”
Too often we live our lives determined only by chronos time. We forget about the importance of kairos time. But what would it mean for us to give attention to both kinds of time? Perhaps our short time here on earth would become charged with eternal significance!
Comments from Marie: When I think of eternity, time without end, I literally get dizzy. But thinking in this way has a tendency to put into perspective whatever is happening in the moment. The problem of the day becomes less significant and the need to understand God and God’s perspective becomes most important. Please share your thoughts on today’s word.
Day 14 Word: TIME
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.” Mark 1:15
The Greek New Testament uses two words for time: Chronos and kairos. The first word refers to clock time, chronological time. This is time measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. We refer to Chronos when we ask someone, “What time is it?”
The second word, kairos, refers to God’s time, time in the sense of divine destiny. Jesus often speaks of time in this way - “The time is fulfilled,” “My hour has not yet come,” or “The time is coming when…”
Too often we live our lives determined only by chronos time. We forget about the importance of kairos time. But what would it mean for us to give attention to both kinds of time? Perhaps our short time here on earth would become charged with eternal significance!
Comments from Marie: When I think of eternity, time without end, I literally get dizzy. But thinking in this way has a tendency to put into perspective whatever is happening in the moment. The problem of the day becomes less significant and the need to understand God and God’s perspective becomes most important. Please share your thoughts on today’s word.
2 Comments
If I have ever been told that the New Testament Greek uses two words for TIME, I had forgotten. Once again, a PAUSE that really makes me think. Our English language is certainly lacking in this regard. To contemplate Kairos is to think eternally, and as Marie says, it takes our breath away. I hope not to forget again and to consider more often kairos - TIME.
I'm wondering if Chronos time is how I measure time and Kairos time is in God's time. I want things to happen in my time but it doesn't always happen that way. I am constantly trying to be patient and wait for God's time. His time is best for me. His time is eternal