Beyond the Clock: Living in the Master’s Rhythm
Jesus had a very specific, revolutionary view of time. He didn’t view it as a linear race to the finish line, but as a series of divine opportunities.
1. The Concept of “Kairos” vs. “Chronos”
In the Greek of the New Testament, there are two words for time.
- Chronos: This is “clock time”—seconds, minutes, and years. It’s where we get the word chronological.
- Kairos: This is “God’s time”—a moment of opportunity, a season, or a “due time.”
Jesus almost always spoke in terms of Kairos. In Mark 1:15, His first recorded words are: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” He wasn’t looking at a watch; He was looking at a spiritual window.
Application: We often stress over Chronos (being late, getting older). Jesus invites us to live in Kairos—asking, “What is God doing in this moment?”
2. The Sufficiency of Today
One of Jesus’ most famous teachings on time is in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)
Jesus viewed time in 24-hour increments of grace. He taught that anxiety is usually just us trying to live in a “tomorrow” that hasn’t happened yet, using up the strength God gave us for “today.”
Application: When you feel the pressure of your Roku app launch or your move back to Pittsburgh, bring your focus back to the current 24 hours. God provides “daily bread,” not “weekly warehouses.”
3. Working While It Is Day
In John 9:4, Jesus says: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” Jesus had a sense of urgency without hurry. He knew His time on earth was limited, which made Him intentional. He didn’t waste time, but He also never seemed to be in a rush. He had time to stop for the woman at the well and time to sleep in the back of a boat during a storm.We often treat time like a predator—something that is “running out” or “chasing us down.” We talk about “killing time” or “saving time,” but Jesus invites us to a third option: Redeeming time.
Beyond the Clock: Living in the Master’s Rhythm
The Myth of “More Time”
We often treat time like a predator—something that is “running out” or “chasing us down.” We talk about “killing time” or “saving time,” but Jesus invites us to a third option: Redeeming time.
We think our problem is that we don’t have enough hours. But Jesus accomplished the redemption of the world in just three years of public ministry. He didn’t need more time; He lived in perfect time. He was never hurried because He was perfectly aligned with the Father’s will.
The Application for the “Mary Heart”
If you have a “Mary heart,” time is no longer your master.
- Stop Borrowing from Tomorrow: High-achievers (the Marthas) are often “time travelers”—their bodies are in the present, but their minds are five days ahead. Jesus calls us back to the present.
- Look for the “Kairos” in the “Chronos”: While you are doing the mundane work of editing video or answering emails, look for the divine appointment. Is there a word of encouragement for a grandchild? A moment of praise while the video renders?
- The Peace of the Finished Task: As you sign your final papers tomorrow, you are acknowledging that your Chronos is in God’s hands. This frees you to use your remaining time for the highest “Kairos” purposes.
Today’s Prayer
Lord, thank You for the gift of this day. Help me to stop racing against the clock and start walking in Your rhythm. Teach me to number my days so that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. Amen.