And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Romans 13:11 (NIV)

The Greek word, kairos, means— “the opportune time,” and often means “the time is NOW!”

Dr. Tony Evans, founder and pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas, Texas, explains his views of a Kingdom Disciple living in our present day culture.

A Kingdom disciple is a person who reflects the values of Heaven in the decisions that have to be made on earth. They’re not just dipping in and out of the Christian faith. They’re not believing the parts of the Bible that work for them and ignoring the parts of the Bible they don’t like. No, because they’re under full time authority! *

Friends, “churchy” talk is easy; but having the courage to live as a Disciple of Christ requires careful examination of one’s lifestyle. Disciples of Jesus Christ today must be identified as those who have decided to rise above mediocrity in order to choose a lifestyle described throughout God’s Word. The word righteousness basically means right living, or living in right relationship with God.

A graphic description of righteousness is found in Psalm 1. Eugene H. Peterson’s interpretation in The Message Devotional Bible presents the verses in a colloquial contemporary style and is as humorous as it is thought provoking.

 How well God must like you—

you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats, you don’t stand with the

good-for-nothings, you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.

 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2a

God charts the road you take.

The road ‘they’ take leads to nowhere.

Psalm 1:6

Are you ready to thrill to God’s Word? Do you read and study scripture in order to be prepared for this kairos moment in our history? It is time—similar to “harvest time”— for believers to live out their days as committed disciples. Jesus gave the first disciples these challenging words to follow.

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24 (CSB)

Reflection in Prayer:

Father, I want to wake up! Help me realize that NOW is the time to live courageously as your disciple and servant.

Jill Hendrix                                                                                      

*Judgment in God’s House, Dr Tony Evans, Sept 5, 2021.