Fulfilling your ministry

This is something I have been pondering for a bit. I confess that I don't believe I'm doing a very good job of fulfilling my ministry. I've let too many things get in the way. Here are some of my issues:

1). What other people think of me
2). I'm not qualified
3). The opportunity hasn't presented itself
4). The timing is all wrong
5). I'm so busy, busy, busy.....
6). My family has needs

I could list other things, but you get the idea. Do you resonate with any of those "reasons"? I thought so. Usually when I realize I'm struggling with something, I find I'm not alone. Let's get honest here: These are just excuses. Yeah--you heard me--EXCUSES! When I exchange the word reason for excuse, then I start to sound a bit whiny and my justification starts melting away.

Look at what 2 Timothy 4:2-5 says: "Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. but as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

Ouch! Whether convenient or not? Yikes. Endure hardship? Really? Fulfill my ministry? Are you sure? But loving Jesus and following him IS NOT convenient, nor does it make our lives pain free, yet it is so vital and so important! We live in a world that needs HIM and needs to know and understand that this relationship is vital in finding true peace, fulfillment, contentment and most importantly--eternal life!

Do you really want to see your loved ones go on without him? How about your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers? You can't make anyone love him or follow him, but you can sure introduce them to what life is like with him....they already know what life is like without him. Remember this the next time you want to say something to someone, but you hesitate:

"The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB)

Remember He has been patient with you....He waited for you. Now go!

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