as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. [2 timothy 4:5]
paul charges timothy to fulfill his ministry: the pastoral calling that has been placed on timothy’s life to shepherd, lead, and care for the people of God. most of this letter has been paul encouraging timothy in this calling and helping him understand how to carry it out. paul has not told timothy to fulfill the ministry, though. he’s specifically speaking of the ministry to which timothy has been called. not everyone is called to pastor the church. but all believers are called to ministry.
and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [ephesians 4:11–12]
the saints (all believers) are the ones called to the work of ministry. so it follows that we would all be called to fulfill our ministry also. following Jesus is not a sitting on the sidelines type of life. everyone is in the game. Holy Spirit empowered believers, carrying out the mission of God in this world. i believe this leads to a question that is good and healthy to ask of ourselves…”what is my ministry?”
pastor. mom. evangelist. leading a middle school small group. husband. being family to orphans. there are lots of ways to answer this question. and it can be an answer that changes through our lives. which is why it is a good question to work out before the presence of the Lord on a regular basis.
for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [ephesians 2:10]
God isn’t up in heaven hoping that we figure out what this ministry he’s called us to is. no! he created us for this purpose and prepared these good works specifically for us to walk in! he wants us to fulfill our ministry. so today spend some time asking God what fulfilling your ministry looks like. as he reveals or confirms these things to you, repent of any of the things have you been running away from. then be encouraged and reminded that God created you for this, equips you for this and, saved you for this. so together let’s walk in the things God has called us to – and let’s fulfill our ministry to his glory.
~ keith kozlowski