{"id":2856,"date":"2023-12-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nancylucenay.com\/staging\/8869\/?p=2856"},"modified":"2025-07-14T17:46:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T21:46:06","slug":"how-to-tell-time-gods-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nancylucenay.com\/staging\/8869\/how-to-tell-time-gods-way\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Tell Time God\u2019s Way"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by Hiroku from Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Trapped in the crossfire of the Israel\/Hamas war, Israeli and Arab Christians face daily danger.\u00a0With tear-stained faces and terror-filled hearts, they beg God to end the hostilities and their indescribable suffering. We grieve with our Christian brothers and sisters, piling our prayers for peace on top of theirs.\u00a0Bonnie Kristian<\/a>\u00a0suggested in\u00a0Christianity Today<\/em>\u00a0that this might be a good time for Jesus to return. Indeed. \u201cCome, Lord Jesus\u201d (Revelation 22:20<\/a>). Yet, time passes, and the war rages. Perhaps you also yearn for answers to other prayers and wonder why you must wait so long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Time of Waiting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First-century Jews also knew the strain of waiting for the fulfillment of their hearts\u2019 desire. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, God sprinkled the hope of a redeemer, someone to deliver them from their oppressors. They looked forward to the promised coming of the Messiah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler\u2019s staff from between his feet, <\/sup>until he to whom it belongs <\/sup>shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. <\/p>\nGenesis 49:10<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David\u2019s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. <\/p>\nIsaiah 9:6-7<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans <\/sup>of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. <\/p>\nMicah 5:2<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. <\/p>\nZechariah 9:9<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As centuries passed with only silence from the Lord, the Jews\u2019 anticipation swelled. By Jesus\u2019 day, they expected the Messiah’s imminent arrival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son. <\/p>\nGalatians 4:4<\/a> ESV<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Ways to Measure Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ancient Greeks had two words for time: chronos <\/em>and kairos<\/em>. Chronos refers to clock or calendar time. Kairos measures moments, not minutes, and means certain conditions have been met. Behind the scenes, God prepared the world to send his Son. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFullness\u201d also means \u201ccompleted.\u201d God waited to send Jesus until everything was ready and arrangements were complete. From history, we can see that circumstances highlight Jesus’ providential arrival time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n