lenten 40: day 25 - time.

image 25.


scripture.
¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

²³Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

~John 4:23

reflection.

i wonder how many times this verse from Ecclesiastes ran through the mind of Jesus has he awaited his time to go to the cross? Jesus was all about timing. there are many instances where he acknowledged that the "time was not right" yet for his full purpose, plan and sacrifice for all men to be made known to all. he knew when the time would be right. (see John 7:6; John 7:8; John 8:20; etc.)

the time had not come, yet, because there was more to be done before the cross. more time was needed for healings, teachings, relationship building... more time to tear down walls and break stereotypes... more time to reach the unreachable and love the unlovable... more time needed to spend with outcasts and sinners...

Jesus was all about timing.

He knew that there was a time needed for rest. (Matthew 11:25-30) A time to eat what the Lord God provides. (Matthew 12:1) A time to provide for others. (Mark 6:30-44). a time for honor (Mark 14:6-8). A time for healing. (Luke 7:21) A time for prayer and praise. (Luke 10:21) And a time to live in the same way as one speaks... to have word and deed fully aligned. (Luke 14).. a time to live out one's faith as the Spirit has compelled.

Jesus also knew that time was of the essence (John 7:33) and that at a certain time, it would be the time... (Matthew 26:18) ... to face the reality of His calling. despite His divine patience - waiting until that God-ordained moment of His death - as a means of salvation for all - he never avoided to speak the truth about the importance of dealing with repentance here and now.

"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" ~Mark 1:15

the question for us today is this: what time is it? how much time are we wasting? there is a time for everything. what time is upon you... upon me... upon the world right now?

what is the Spirit compelling us to do right now. not tomorrow. not yesterday. now?

if time were a glass of water* - we might feel the urge to stare into it - wondering if the ripples might tell us the future; wondering how full or empty is the glass. worrying about the future, while living in the past...

or we could come to realize that the glass of water represents the present.

why sit there wasting time wondering and worrying about past and future events? we should drink up the present... drink it up! and live our life in the way that would bring glory to God.

the time is now.

Added Reflection.

The Gospel Rhythm of time

*Glass of Water by Coldplay (lyrics)