Would that every minister might realize the sacredness of his office and the holiness of his work, and show the courage that Elijah showed! As divinely appointed messengers, ministers are in a position of awful responsibility. They are to "reprove, rebuke, exhort will all long-suffering." 2 Timothy 4:2. In Christ's stead they are to labor as stewards of the mysteries of heaven, encouraging the obedient and warning the disobedient. With them worldly policy is to have no weight. Never are they to swerve from the path in which Jesus has bidden them walk. They are to go forward in faith, remembering that they are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. They are not to speak their own words, but words which One greater than the potentates of earth has bidden them speak. Their message is to be, "Thus saith the Lord." God calls for men like Elijah, Nathan, and John the Baptist--men who will bear His message with faithfulness, regardless of the consequences; men who will speak the truth bravely, though it call for the sacrifice of all they have.

Hvor ville jeg ønske, at hver eneste prædikant forstod, at hans embede og hans arbejde er helligt! og hvor ville jeg ønske, at han havde Elias mod! Prædikanter er guddommeligt indsatte sendebud, og de har et frygteligt ansvar. De skal "overbevise, tugte, formane med al langmodighed". 2Tim. 4,2. I Kristi sted skal de forvalte Himmelens hemmeligheder; de skal opmuntre de lydige og advare de ulydige. De bør ikke tage hensyn til, hvad der er skik og brug i verden. De bør heller aldrig forlade den sti, som Jesus har budt dem at følge. De bør gå fremad i tro og huske på, at de er omgivet af en sky af vidner. De skal ikke tale på egne vegne, men sige, hvad han, der er større end jordens fyrster, har budt dem. Deres budskab bør være: "Så siger Herren." Gud har brug for mænd som Elias, Natan og Johannes Døber mænd, som vil forkynde hans budskab med troskab uden hensyn til følgerne, mænd, som modigt vil forkynde sandheden, selv om det skal koste dem alt, hvad de ejer.