The Lord has His appointed agencies to meet men in their errors and backslidings. His messengers are sent to bear a plain testimony to arouse them from their sleepy condition and to open the precious words of life, the Holy Scriptures, to their understanding. These men are not to be preachers merely, but ministers, light bearers, faithful watchmen, who will see the threatened danger and warn the people. They must resemble Christ in their earnest zeal, in their thoughtful tact, in their personal efforts—in short, in all their ministry. They are to have a vital connection with God, and are to become so familiar with the prophecies and the practical lessons of the Old and the New Testament that they may bring from the treasure house of God’s word things new and old. {5T 251.1}

Herren har sine udpegede hjælpere til at møde mennesker, i deres fejl og frafald. Hans budbringere er sendt for at frembære et tydeligt vidnesbyrd, til at vække dem op af deres sovende tilstand og åbne de dyrebare livsord, de hellige skrifter, for deres forstand. Disse mennesker er ikke kun forkyndere, men tjenere, lysbærere, trofaste vagtfolk, som vil se den truende fare og advare folket. De må ligne Kristus i deres seriøse iver og i deres taktfølelse, i deres personlige anstrengelser - kort sagt, i hele deres tjeneste. De skal have en livsvigtig forbindelse med Gud og skal blive så fortrolig med profetierne og det gamle og nye testamentes praktiske lektioner, at de kan tage både nye og gamle ting frem fra Guds ords skatkammer.