“ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised”. Psalm 113:3
Dear friends,
As I write this, it is nine whole weeks since the Covid-19 lockdown began. It started with us having to cancel plans for my wife’s birthday celebrations and a holiday. But it also started with great ideas of all those jobs, waiting to be tackled, that could now be done during the days of enforced confinement. The days have not been entirely idle, but many of those jobs…. Well you know what I was going to say! Even when there’s plenty of time there still seems to be not quite enough of it, somehow.
In the New Testament there are two Greek words for ‘time’: ‘chronos’ and ‘kairos’. The first, from which we derive the word ‘chronology’ etc., refers to measured time, “time, like an ever-rolling stream” (Isaac Watts). II Timothy 1:9 says a wonderful thing about time – and about God’s grace: “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time”! As a Christian, not only can I be sure that God loves me (despite my unworthiness) but that he set his undeserved love upon me before time was. What blessed assurance!
The second word, ‘kairos’, refers to opportune time, appropriate time, the right time to do something. So, in Romans 5:6 we read: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly”.
Our sovereign God is Lord of both ‘chronos’ and ‘kairos’ and this period of lockdown is proving to be time in both senses. There is time, and it is time, to do certain things. Time to reassess our priorities and values, time to be more aware of our mortality, time to reflect on eternity, time to contact people, time to ‘do church’ (what an awful, unbiblical phrase!) differently, time to be still and be aware of God, time to listen to God, time to catch up on procrastinated tasks, time to relax and relieve the stress – and so the list might go on.
Have you been aware of any ‘kairos’ moment or moments during lockdown?
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity (kairos), because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is”. (Ephesians 5:15-17),
Your brother in Christ,
YOU WILL BE SORRY, THOUGH NOT SURPRISED, TO LEARN THAT IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO POSTPONE BIBLE FOCUS UNTIL NEXT YEAR ON ACCOUNT OF THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION. I WILL WRITE AGAIN SHORTLY WITH DETAILS OF PLANS FOR AN ‘ONLINE’ ALTERNATIVE THAT WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO HOLD.
As we cannot hold a live event this year it is an enormous disappointment to all of us, but not least to our book supplier, 10ofthose. A large part of their ministry is providing bookstalls at major Christian events such as the Keswick Convention, Word Alive etc. Now with these, and smaller events, already cancelled they are facing serious cash-flow problems. It is so important that such a vital ministry can continue even in these difficult times.
