Mona Selden writes daily devotions for her church, Marion Baptist, in south-central Virginia. She is co-host with her pastor on The Mosaic of Marion podcast. Her writing and teaching are done with the desire to help others get to know God better through His Word. Her blog, Filled to Overflowing, combines her passion for photography and writing. Mona’s husband is USAF Retired. They are enjoying their nearly empty nest with a married daughter and a son in college.
“And say to Archippus, ‘See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.'” – Colossians 4:17
I never dreamed I’d be a writer of any sort, especially of devotions and Bible studies. Over the past four years, though, I have written many different things, including two devotional books. God has given me a ministry that is far beyond anything I have ever imagined.
My pastor has been encouraging me that I am supposed to be writing even more than I already do. On my own accord, I cannot fathom it. But I know that his encouragement comes from his time in prayer. I also know that if God is asking me to do more with my writing, then I best get to it.
This instruction from Paul to Archippus stuck with me while we were studying Colossians. I read those words and realized that I needed to apply them to myself. I needed to be sure to fulfill the ministry God has given me.
In order to fulfill the ministry that God has given us, we must first be certain that God has called us into that ministry. It is easy for us to place ourselves in a ministry role and assume that God has placed us there. But if He has not, our ministry won’t be as effective as it could be. Our “yes” may be a good one, but God’s “yes” is always the best.
Once you know that God has called you to do the ministry you are in, then you must work diligently to fulfill it. The word fulfill is in the present tense, meaning it is a continual act. We are to continually fulfill the ministry God has given to us. We fulfill it by putting in all the effort needed—even when we don’t want to. It’s saying no to some things so that we can say yes to what needs to be done. We fulfill our ministry when we work diligently at it, giving it our all. We remain faithful no matter what.
As with any ministry, on some days it is hard to keep going. Some days we lack motivation. Doubts creep in and threaten to take you out of ministry. I have started some writings that I stopped because they were hard. I have chickened out of some writings because the content was difficult. Being in ministry requires self-sacrifice and self-denial.
This verse from Colossians will soon be hanging in my office as a reminder to fulfill the ministry God has given me. I pray that you, too, will work to fulfill the ministry God has placed you in. I pray that you will be encouraged to keep on going, even when you have run out of steam, even in the midst of disappointments and doubts. I pray that you will make it your aim to be faithful to what God has called you to.
