I recently posted a “Read The Word” video on my social media touching on Paul’s last words to Timothy.
These words would be Paul’s final words in the Scriptures before he was killed for his faith and work in the Church. We know that Paul had a really good idea that his time on earth was short as he was penning these words.
If you know your time is short, how intentional are you with your words?
The answer is “VERY.”
Every word matters.
The weight of the words hit so hard, we can’t even read them almost 2,000 years later without feeling the punch they pack.
Paul writes to Timothy: “FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
These words are critical to Paul, and he knows he can’t leave them left unsaid.
The exhortation to do the work God has called him to no doubt left a lasting impact and helped influence the trajectory of Timothy’s life and work.
Today, I want to break those three simple words down with you.
FULFILL your ministry.
FULFILL: to carry out fully
- Notice that the word ‘fulfill’ implies action. It’s a verb that calls us to do the thing. To finish the job well.
Straight-up: You cannot do the things God called you to if you refuse to take action on them.
I know that’s super simple and obvious, but the truth is, when we’re put in the position where we know there’s God-given work for us but we’re too timid to take the next step, we’re in effect saying, “No, God.”
I’m writing to tell you that today is the day you stop telling God ‘no’ because of your fear of man.
God is faithful to complete the work He began in you, but you still have to choose to participate in your own life.
Say ‘yes’ to His call today, regardless of the fears.
Ok!
Ok?
Fulfill YOUR ministry.
YOUR: belonging to you
- Notice here that the call is to one’s OWN ministry. Not their neighbor’s. Not their mentor’s. Not their child’s…
Your job isn’t to worry about fulfilling anyone else’s role or call, but simply to be faithful to the one God gave you.
For some people that truth brings an immediate sense of freedom.
“Whew. I can release the concerns for making sure everyone else’s ducks are in a row… I can just be responsible for myself!”
Can I be honest, though? – (I know you said ‘yes’ in your mind, so here you go…)
An alarming number of us don’t find freedom in the idea that we just need to be concerned with our own thing.
Why?
Because that means letting go of wanting to control all the moving parts.
I won’t go into this too much here, but I will say this: our hang-up with wanting to control everything is almost always rooted in some sort of fear.
If that’s a struggle you have, I’d just ask you to take that to God and ask Him to show you if that’s the case for you and then allow Him to lead you out of it.
Fulfill your MINISTRY.
MINISTRY: -diakonía in the Greek – meaning active service, done with a willing attitude.
In reference to the Christian believer, this refers specifically to service one offers by faith and through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
- If you are a follower of Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit living in you, YOU have a ministry. YOU have an act of service to offer the world, right where you are. Your life was meant to be lived for more than yourself, and it cannot be lived fully without leaning into the things God puts on your heart to do – those things that can only be completed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Regardless of where you find yourself, you are called to this kind of active service for the fame of His Name.
I’ll just say it: you have an enemy of your soul who absolutely delights in the days when followers of Jesus doubt their call or impact thereof.
Your enemy smiles his slippery smile when he knows you’re buying the lie that whatever you’ve been called to in this season isn’t possibly “enough.”
He’s tickled pink when he sees you’re taking the bait – hook, line, and sinker – and that you’re letting his lies into your life.
If you’re feeling like that, I encourage you to challenge that nonsense with the Word of God.
Just like Jesus always responded to Satan with the truth from the Word, so should you.
It’s the playbook of your King!
If it’s good for Him, by golly, it’s good for you!
You have a ministry.
You were ransomed and redeemed and called to bring Light to the dark world around you.
Don’t play small with your calling, and don’t worry about ten years from now.
Today, what do you have to do to do right by God and what He put on your heart?
Do that.
Then, tomorrow – repeat that same approach.
You were quite literally made for this!
Don’t let the devil and doubt steal the life God wants for you.
Go do the thing!
With you and for you, every step of the way!
