You...yes You

"Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”" Colossians 4:17 NASB

I will meditate on Your precepts. Psalm 119:15 NKJV There are times when solitude is better than company, and silence is wiser than speech. We would be better Christians if we were alone more, waiting on God, meditating on His Word and gathering spiritual strength for His service. We ought to carefully consider the things of God, because that is how we get the real nourishment from them.- C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening

Why is it that some Christians, though they hear many sermons, make only a slow advance in the divine life? It is because they neglect their quiet time, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day

There's much to be said in shutting up. 
Harsh way to put it?  Not really.  A Disciple learned by being still and quiet in the presence of their Master. 

A Sheep would only recognize the voice of its Shepherd if it wasn't bleating all the time.

What got me first was Colossians 4 today.  Do you realize there are no couch quarterbacks in Christianity?  You do not come to Christ only to go do your own thing.

A Disciple does nothing that he or she wants, he or she does what the Master says is important.

Do we have a right to enjoy this world that Jesus created? Yes. He did. Both when He created it and when He was here 2,000 years ago. 

But notice what He keeps saying. My Father is working and I must work.

There's a job for you to be doing, are you doing it?

Don't go on about what you can or can't do. Read your Bible.  Every excuse ever said had been heard. There's nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes.

But I can't...
But I don't know how...
But I don't have the time...
But I earned my time off...

We all have excuses.  Adam and Eve began their life of sin with them.

Read that passage in Colossians again.

Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

Insert your name.  Make it personal.

Every single believer has a ministry.
None of us are exempt from fulfilling it.

Read a little earlier in Colossians 4.  One person's ministry was prayer. That's what they did!  Pray. Their genuine concern for those they couldn't see was turned towards prayer.

But you don't understand my time constraints.  If I do this then I won't enjoy this other thing...

Does it really matter in light of the fact that at any moment Christ is coming back?

What does the Scriptures say about those who were anticipating His return versus those who didn't?  Didn't fare well for those who were not found to be obeying when He returned.

But you don't understand, the rules at work don't let me talk about Jesus.  No...you're more concerned that you will need to mount a defense in living out your Salvation.  God said not to be concerned about what you will say. That the Holy Spirit would give you the words to say.
There's always a way to live your life in such a way that people will wonder what you have that they don't.

You seriously mistake the idea.  Your life is the testimony of it. If you absolutely have to, open your mouth.  People will see Christ in you or they will see you. They will either see the saint or the sinner.  Even at their trial after Christ had risen, Peter and the others were SEEN as being uneducated yet they were also SEEN and heard in their testimony. 

Nobody becomes a Christian to go do what they want.  There's work to be done.  Look at how even Jesus spoke of the Father's Plan.  To have Him die and rise again. To give hope to 11 at first.  To empower those 11 with the Holy Spirit in a way that Satan could not touch...and in turn impact the entire world for generations to come.  Jesus loved the marvelous plan of His Father!

So have you found your calling? Are you fulfilling your ministry? 

There's only one retirement plan in God's kingdom.  It has nothing to do with doing our own thing.  We serve until He calls us home or He returns. 

We live a life that reflects Christ, not us.

Be in the Word of God.  Be taking time to be alone with Him. Be an obedient Disciple.  Listen for the voice of your Master.  We chose to come to Christ...it comes with a need to trust and obey.  More than a need it's a requirement.