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Have A Very Kairos Christmas!
Jon BurgessNow hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:5-6
The Greek word Paul uses for the phrase "in due time" is "Kairos". In contrast to the Greek word Chronos which denotes the quantity of time, Kairosdescribes the quality of time. At both Christ's birth and death it was a kairos moment that changed everything for the rest of chronos time! It was an opportune time, a definitive time, a proper time for action. I like the description of kairos as the "perfect season" for Christ to give His life for all mankind.
The Christmas season can be the "perfect season" if we can learn to fill our chronos with kairos-to fill our quanitity of time with quality time. It's December 1st and before we know it the presents will be unwrapped, the Christmas candlight services done, the feasts eaten and we will all be facing a brand new year! I love how Paul describes the hope that doesn't disappoint and then uses Christ as the ultimate example of this. It was 400 years of silence before Jesus arrived in that manger in Bethelem. It wasn't until Jesus turned 30 years old that He stepped into public ministry. For those oppressed, worn, and torn this would look like God was taking His sweet time. Yet, all who waited, all who watched, all who did not give up were not disappointed! It was the perfect kairos time in the scope of eternity for Jesus to save the world. The truth is that the only way we will not be disappoointed by this Christmas season is if we make it a kairos Christmas. What if instead of being led by the tyranny of the urgent or leaning on the glories of the perfect gift we were looking for what Jesus was doing in each and every moment? What if we made room for that unexpected conversation with our kids? What about that gift we give to someone who never saw it coming? What if instead of putting all our hope in the perfect Christmas meal time we asked the Lord who we could take out for coffee or invite over for pie? What if instead of the disappointement that normally sets in after New Years because it all went by too fast (chronos) we were filled with joy at all the perfect little moments (kairos) God used us to love those around us? Paul tells us that we can actually redeem, get the most out of, the time (kairos) by letting our "speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one". (Colossians 4:5-6) Instead of time being a task master we can use the time we've been gifted and turn it into a gift to each other. When it comes down to it, isn't quality time the greatest gift we can give each other anyway? Have a Very Merry Kranos Christmas!
Lord, let my speech be seasoned with grace this December. Let my time be led by Your Holy Spirit. I want to just be busy, I want to busy about Your business! I want to see what You are doing and do it with you! Time is going by way too fast and I don't want to waste it, I want to redeem it! I commit this last month of 2016 to you! Everything that is scheduled to happen is now in Your hands. I pray that I would catch Your eye as I look with your eyes at those around me!
