Many people
look forward to the New Year with the hope of a new start. Having rested over
Christmas they feel energized for the New Year. But just because the clock
ticks over another calendar year, does it necessarily mean that it is a new
season for us as believers? Is our God necessarily constrained by our calendar
years?
There is a
very interesting verse in 1Chron
12:32 which says “men of Issachar, who understood the times
and knew what Israel
In the Greek New Testament
we find two words for ‘time’ which have quite different meanings. Firstly, we
have ‘chronos’ time. This refers to the time we measure by means of a clock or
calendar. This is sequential or chronological time; minute by minute; day by
day; year by year.
Secondly, we have ‘khairos’
time, which refers more to a period of time, a season, or a window of
opportunity. It may last a few minutes, days or years. It can be measured,
usually in hindsight, by ‘chronos’ time but is mostly not restricted to a
neatly defined period of ‘chronos’ time. As the old saying goes: “We must
take the opportunity of a lifetime in the lifetime of the opportunity.”
Acts 1:6-7 ESV “…they
asked him, "Lord, will you at this time (chronos) restore the kingdom to Israel
The disciples wanted to
know about the ‘chronos’ time but Jesus responded by mentioning ‘khairos’ time.
Many people today are more focussed on the clock or the calendar than the
season they are in with God.
There are season’s that we
go through as individuals, as a church family and as a nation with God, and
they are all different.
Can you discern the season
that you are in with God? As we look forward to a new year, 2014, do you sense
a shift or change in your season or do you believe the season that you are
currently in is not over? It is so important to pray & ask God about it. I
pray that you would discern, like the sons of Issachar, what season you are in
and therefore walk boldly into 2014, full of faith and grace, knowing what God
wants you to do.
God Bless
Ps Jacques
