What is this season? What season are you in?
Monday Reflection – 2017
As this day approached, I wondered what might I commit to do in this new year. As I reflected, it came to me just yesterday that I could prepare and share a weekly Monday Reflection. I hope that God will give me the wisdom and guidance so to do and to be faithful. I intend to use the Watchword and/or Doctrinal texts for each Monday.
May the Monday Reflections serve as an inspiration to us for each week.
Watchword: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
What is this season? What season are you in?
There are four seasons of the year.
- There is spring when seeds take root and vegetation begins to grow. The weather is warmer, and often wetter. Animals wake or return from warmer climates, often with newborns.
- There is summer when there is usually increase in temperature to the hottest of the year. In this period droughts are most likely to occur and forest fires may become more frequent.
- There is autumn or fall when temperatures cool again. Plants may begin to grow dormant. Animals might prepare themselves for the upcoming cold weather, storing food or traveling to warmer regions.
- There is winter which often brings a chill. Some areas may experience snow or ice, while others see only cold rain. Animals find ways to warm themselves, and may have changed their appearance to adapt.
What season are you in physically, emotionally and spiritually?
The word today is not about the literal seasons of the year, but the word is about God’s determined season/time. The word ‘time’ has two meanings in the Greek language.
- Kronos – This is the chronological time that we observe every day, week, hour, minute and second. It is about day into night and night into day.
- Kairos – This is God’s appointed time, the actions and interventions of God in His own time.
While we operate in chronological time, the God who transcends time, operates in his time (kairos). We make plans to fit into this time (kronos), yet God acts in his time (kairos). These two do not always converge, but we must recognize that God’s timing, actions and plans will always outdo, even eliminate, ours.
The Doctrinal Text is instructive in light of the Watchword. It says:
Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” – not knowing what he said. Luke 9:33
Two thoughts immediately come to mind:
- Peter spoke when he should have been quiet – It is no wonder that the text says that Peter himself did not know what he said. He uttered words that he didn’t even know or understand. In the midst of the magnificent transfiguration, Peter was transfixed and confused and just said words. He missed the opportunity to be silent. We do not always have to speak; in fact, we should listen twice as much as we speak (no wonder we have two ears and one mouth). In this season, it may be the time to be silent……and watch……..and listen. There is indeed a time to speak and a time to be quiet.
- Peter wanted to stay permanently in this moment of exhilarating experience– This was evident as he desired to build three tabernacles. We love the mountaintops and despise the valleys. We wish we only had seasons of excitement, happiness, success and achievement. We don’t like sadness, disappointment, and failures. We wish our experiences were all exhilarating and breath-taking.
We have lived long enough to know that life is filled with many seasons, ups and downs, mountains and valleys. What season are you in? Perhaps you are up on the mountain/in the spring experiencing the blessings of growth; yet your valley will come. Perhaps you are in the valley/in the drought of the summer; yet your mountaintop will come. What season is it? What season are you in?
Whatever season it is and whatever season we are in, be assured that God remains present and constant. God is present in our kronos and acts in his kairos. Open your hearts today and this week for God’s perfect action and kairos.
Prayer from the Daily Text:
Father of all creation, we honour you for making all things beautiful in their season. May we live each season knowing that it is a part of a master plan and design. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Till next week, be blessed in the Lord.
Jermaine Gibson