Pregnancy Time: Being Present to God's Presence

Fort Street Presbyterian Church, Detroit

Two Greek words are used in the Bible for "time." One is chronos. This refers to "clock time," such as, It is now 7 AM. 

Chronos is used in Matthew 2:7: Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.

And in Acts 1:6: Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

And in several other places.

The second Greek word for "time" is kairos. This refers to "God's timing," in the sense of "the right time," "the opportune time." Just the right moment. Things are coming to a head.

Kairos is used in Matthew 11:25: At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

And in Romans 5:6: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

And in several other places.

Kairos is used when God breaks through and interrupts ordinary time. 

Eugene Peterson writes:

"Time. But not just time in general, abstracted to a geometric grid on a calendar or numbers on a clock face, but what the Greeks named kairos, pregnancy time, being present to the Presence. I never know what is coming next; “Watch therefore.”"  (Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir, pp. 7-8)

It is now 7:10 AM. Clock time marches on.

God will give birth to many things today. This day will be filled with the surprises of God. I never know what is coming next.