Tell (insert your name here): see to it that you complete the ministry you have received from the Lord.

My youngest son gets bored easily. I can remember the first time I found this out. He was tired of womb living at 30 weeks and decided to try for new surroundings in the NICU for two months. He got tired of it there too, but they would only let him go with a promise of keeping scheduled appointments at a research hospital in Portland, OR. As you can imagine, these were tough times in our life.
We walked into our last appointment at the hospital with the sun shining. We decided upon leaving for the last time to celebrate that our newborn was given a clean bill of health by taking a drive in the hills before he got bored of his nap. Somewhere along the way, the sun went down, and the darkness started to settle in. I do not know if you know what it is like driving through towering pines in the forest but light fades fast and darkness can catch you off guard quick. Apparently, unbeknownst to us, our automatic headlight feature did not get turned back on the last time we went in for an oil change and we just assumed it was especially dark that evening. Thankfully, a kind and sweet woman passed us as she screamed and cursed at us to let us know how stupid we were for driving with no lights on in the dark night.
“TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON!!” (slightly paraphrased by me for our more sensitive viewers).
I honestly thanked God for sending someone who we would not miss to help us see that we were driving with no lights on in the dark.
Just in case you have not noticed, gross darkness has come. And just in case you forgot or have been distracted with other things trying to demand your attention, you have a Great Light rising on you too.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:1-3
Just in case you had been on a good run with walking in your personal ministry from Jesus (everyone has one) and just in case you have been distracted with the cares of this world, I would like to sweetly and kindly tell you: “…see to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” Colossians 4:17
May God bless the work of your hands and cover you in His favor as you keep on keeping on. His Grace is sufficient for me and you.