第一编 蒙主圣召
“你们倒要称为耶和华的祭司，人必称你们为我们上帝的仆役”(赛61:6)。
第一章 作基督的代表
在地球历史的每一阶段，上帝都有祂善用机会的人。祂对他们说：“你们是我的见证”(赛42:10)。在每一个时代，都有虔诚的人持守照在他们道路上的光，将上帝的道传给世人。以诺，挪亚，摩西，但以理和一大批先祖与先知都是“仁义的差役”(林后11:15)。他们并非毫无过失，而是软弱有过错的。但是他们献身为主服务，主就藉着他们作工。{GW 13.1}
自从教会的伟大元首基督升天之后，祂所拣选的使者继续推进祂在地上的工作。祂藉着这些人与世人说话，供应他们的需要。这些蒙上帝宣召、用言语和道理建立祂教会的人，负有重大的责任。他们替基督劝人与上帝和好。他们只有接受从上头来的智慧和能力，才能完成他们的使命。{GW 13.2}
上帝的传道人用七星来代表。他们是那身为首先的和末后的主所特别关怀和保护的。教会所充满的优美影响，都是与传道人息息相关的，他们的责任乃是要表显基督的爱。原来天上的众星都受祂的管理。祂使它们充满光明。祂指引并控制它们的运转，否则它们就要变成陨落的星了。祂的传道人也是如此。他们不过是祂手里的器皿，所以他们所成就的善事也都是靠祂的能力而成的。{GW 13.3}
上帝为了使基督得荣耀，就藉着圣灵的运行，使传道人造福于教会，胜过星辰造福于地球。他们的效能出于救主。他们如果仰望基督，象基督仰望祂的父那样，就能作祂的工。他们如果依靠上帝，祂就必赐亮光给他们反照于世界。{GW 14.1}
属灵的守望者
基督的传道人是交托他们照应之人的属灵监护人。他们的工作就象守望者的工作一样。古时城墙的险要之处，常有哨兵看守。他们能俯视需要防守的重要地方，在敌人临近时发出警告。全城居民的安全，有赖于他们的忠心。他们每隔一段时间，就要彼此招呼，以确保大家都警醒，也没有人受到伤害。这种报平安或警告的喊叫，彼此传呼，传遍城的四围。{GW 14.2}
主对每一位传道人说：“人子啊，我照样立你作以色列家守望的人。所以你要听我口中的话，替我警戒他们。我对恶人说：‘恶人哪，你必要死!’你以西结若不开口警戒恶人，使他离开所行的道，这恶人必死在罪孽之中，我却要向你讨他丧命的罪;倘若你警戒恶人转离所行的道，……你却救自己脱离了罪”(结33:7-9)。{GW 14.3}
先知的这段话，说明了那些奉命担任教会卫兵，就是上帝奥秘事管家的人所负的严肃责任。他们应当站在锡安城墙上作守望的人，见有仇敌来就发出警告。如果他们的属灵感官因任何原因而麻木了，辨不出危险，百姓因他们没有发出警告而灭亡了，上帝就要向他们讨问百姓丧命的罪。{GW 15.1}
锡安城墙上的守望者有特权在生活中亲近上帝，接受圣灵的感动，使上帝能藉着他们向罪人指明危险，并把他们领到平安之所。上帝既拣选这些人，用宝血分别他们为圣，他们就要拯救人脱离迫近的毁灭。他们应当忠心地警告同胞犯罪的必然结果，并忠心地维护教会的利益。他们在任何时候都不可放松警惕。他们的工作要求他们全力以赴。他们的声音应当如号筒，不可带疑惑不定之声。他们作工不是为了工资，乃是不得不做，因为他们知道若不传福音，他们就必有祸了。{GW 15.2}
忠心服务
与基督同工的传道人要深刻认识到自己工作的神圣性质，以及工作取得成功所需要的劳苦与牺牲。他不求自己的安逸和便利。他忘记了自己。在寻找亡羊的时候，他不觉得自己的困乏，寒冷和饥饿。他唯一的目标是拯救沦丧的人。{GW 16.1}
凡在以马内利血染旗帜下服役的人，经常会遇着需要勇敢耐心对待的事。但十字架的精兵却毫无畏惧地站在阵前。当仇敌前来进攻时，他就向“保障”求救。当他带着圣经的应许来到主的面前时，他就变得刚强有力，能够尽当前的责任了。他认识到自己需要从上头来的力量。他打了胜仗，并不骄傲自大，却要更加依赖全能的主。他靠着那大能，有力地传扬救恩的信息，使别人的心产生回应。{GW 16.2}
主差遣祂的传道人传达生命之道，不要讲“理学和虚空的妄言”(西2:8)或“似是而非的学问”(提前6:20)，而要传福音，就是“上帝的大能，要救一切相信的”(罗1:16)。保罗写信给提摩太说：“我在上帝面前，并在将来审判活人死人的基督耶稣面前，凭着祂的显现和祂的国度嘱咐你：务要传道，无论得时不得时，总要专心，并用百般的忍耐，各样的教训，责备人，警戒人，劝勉人。因为时候要到，人必厌烦纯正的道理，耳朵发痒，就随从自己的情欲，增添好些师傅，并且掩耳不听真道，偏向荒渺的言语。你却要凡事谨慎，忍受苦难，作传道的工夫，尽你的职分”(提后4:1-5)。这段嘱咐概括了每一个传道人的工作。只有实现了耶稣对门徒的应许-：“我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了”(太28:20)，这项工作才能完成。{GW 16.3}
传福音的人是上帝派到世人中间的使者。他们决不可忘记自己的使命和责任。他们如果与天国失去了联系，危险就比别人更大，不良的影响也比别人更强。撒但不断地观望着，等他们暴露出弱点来，好给予有效的打击。他若得了胜，会何等高兴!因为一个基督的使者放松了警惕，让大仇敌掳去许多人。{GW 17.1}
真正的传道人决不会作任何贬低其神圣职责的事。他必举止谨慎，行动智慧。他要像基督那样工作，做基督所做的事情，尽一切力量将救恩的信息传给没有听到的人。他的心要深深渴慕基督的义。他认识到自己的缺欠，就切心寻求能力，使他能明确、诚恳、谦虚地讲述耶稣里的真理。{GW 17.2}
信心坚定的榜样
上帝的仆人得不到世人尊敬和认可。司提反因传扬基督和祂钉十字架，被人用石头打死。保罗因为忠心地将上帝的福音传给外邦人，而遭到监禁、鞭打、石击，最终被杀害。使徒约翰“为上帝的道，并为给耶稣作的见证”(启1:9)被流放到拔摩岛上。这些人靠着上帝的大能，树立了信心坚定的榜样，向世人证明上帝应许的信实，证明祂的时常同在和施恩支持。{GW 18.1}
上帝的仇敌没有光荣永生的盼望照亮前途。试看那伟大的军事将领，战胜了列国，震撼了半个世界的军队，最后却被放逐，失望而死。再看哲学家用心观察宇宙，到处寻察上帝权能的显示，并为万物的和谐而高兴，却往往不能在这些奇异的万象中看到创造的手。“人在尊贵中，而不醒悟，就如死亡的畜类一样”(诗49:20)。但是上帝信心的英雄们则要承受比地上任何财物更加宝贵的产业。这产业能满足人心的渴望。他们在世上也许默默无闻，但在天上的记录册上，却被登记为天国的公民，有尊贵和永远极大无比的荣耀要赐给他们。{GW 18.2}
向罪人指出上帝的羔羊，是人所能从事最伟大最崇高的工作。真正的传道人与主同工成就祂的旨意。上帝对他们说，你们去宣讲和传扬基督，指教一切不知道祂恩典、良善和仁慈的人。务要教导人。因为“人未曾信祂，怎能求祂呢?未曾听见祂，怎能信祂呢?没有传道的，怎能听见呢”(罗10:14)?{GW 18.3}
“那报佳音、传平安、报好信、传救恩的，对锡安说：你的上帝作王了!这人的脚登山何等佳美。”“耶路撒冷的荒场啊，要发起欢声，一同歌唱，因为耶和华安慰了祂的百姓，救赎了耶路撒冷。耶和华在万国眼前露出圣臂，地极的人都看见我们上帝的救恩了”(赛52:7, 9-10)。{GW 19.1}
基督的工人决不要以为，更不要说自己的工作是徒然的。我们一切事情的效能全在于主耶稣。祂的灵要激励我们。我们若把自己交在祂手里，作传光的通道，我们行善的资源就会用之不竭。我们可以吸取祂的丰富，领受无穷的恩典。{GW 19.2}
In every period of this earth's history, God has had His men of opportunity, to whom He has said, "Ye are My witnesses." In every age there have been devout men, who gathered up the rays of light as they flashed upon their pathway, and who spoke to the people the words of God. Enoch, Noah, Moses, Daniel, and the long roll of patriarchs and prophets,--these were ministers of righteousness. They were not infallible; they were weak, erring men; but the Lord wrought through them as they gave themselves to His service. {GW 13.1}[1]
Since His ascension, Christ the great Head of the church, has carried forward His work in the world by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks to the children of men, and ministers to their needs. The position of those who have been called of God to labor in word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church, is one of grave responsibility. In Christ's stead they are to beseech men and women to be reconciled to God; and they can fulfil their mission only as they receive wisdom and power from above. {GW 13.2}[2
] God's ministers are symbolized by the seven stars, which He who is the first and the last has under His special care and protection. The sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with these ministers of God, who are to represent the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under God's control. He fills them with light. He guides and directs their movements. If He did not, they would become fallen stars. So with His ministers. They are but instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is done through His power. {GW 13.3}[3]
It is to the honor of Christ that He makes His ministers a greater blessing to the church, through the working of the Holy Spirit, than are the stars to the world. The Saviour is to be their efficiency. If they will look to Him as He looked to His Father, they will do His works. As they make God their dependence, He will give them His brightness to reflect to the world. {GW 14.1}[4]
【Spiritual Watchmen】
Christ's ministers are the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted to their care. Their work has been likened to that of watchmen. In ancient times, sentinels were often stationed on the walls of cities, where, from points of vantage, they could overlook important points to be guarded, and give warning of the approach of an enemy. Upon their faithfulness depended the safety of all within. At stated intervals they were required to call to one another, to make sure that all were awake, and that no harm had befallen any. The cry of good cheer or of warning was borne from one to another, each repeating the call till it echoed round the city. {GW 14.2}[5]
To every minister the Lord declares: "O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, . . . thou hast delivered thy soul." [Ezekiel 33:7-9.] {GW 14.3}[6]
These words of the prophet declare the solemn responsibility resting upon those who are appointed as guardians of the church, stewards of the mysteries of God. They are to stand as watchmen on the walls of Zion, to sound the note of alarm at the approach of the enemy. If for any reason their spiritual senses become so benumbed that they are unable to discern danger, and through their failure to give warning the people perish, God will require at their hands the blood of those who are lost. {GW 15.1}[7]
It is the privilege of the watchmen on the walls of Zion to live so near to God, and to be so susceptible to the impressions of His Spirit, that He can work through them to tell sinners of their peril, and point them to the place of safety. Chosen of God, sealed with the blood of consecration, they are to rescue men and women from impending destruction. Faithfully are they to warn their fellow-men of the sure result of transgression, and faithfully are they to safeguard the interest of the church. At no time may they relax their vigilance. Theirs is a work requiring the exercise of every faculty of the being. In trumpet tones their voices are to be lifted, and never should they sound one wavering, uncertain note. Not for wages are they to labor, but because they cannot do otherwise, because they realize that there is a woe upon them if they fail to preach the gospel. {GW 15.2}[8]
【Faithfulness in Service】
The minister who is a co-worker with Christ will have a deep sense of the sacredness of his work, and of the toil and sacrifice required to perform it successfully. He does not study his own ease or convenience. He is forgetful of self. In his search for the lost sheep, he does not realize that he himself is weary, cold, and hungry. He has but one object in view,--the saving of the lost. {GW 16.1}[9]
He who serves under the blood-stained banner of Emmanuel often has that to do which calls for heroic effort and patient endurance. But the soldier of the cross stands unshrinkingly in the forefront of the battle. As the enemy presses the attack against him, he turns to the Stronghold for aid; and as he brings to the Lord the promises of the Word, he is strengthened for the duties of the hour. He realizes his need of strength from above. The victories that he gains do not lead to self-exaltation, but cause him to lean more and more heavily on the Mighty One. Relying upon that power, he is enabled to present the message of salvation so forcibly that it awakens an answering chord in other minds. {GW 16.2}[10]
The Lord sends His ministers to hold forth the word of life, to preach, not "philosophy and vain deceit," nor "science falsely so called," but the gospel, "the power of God unto salvation." [Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:20; Romans 1:16.] "I charge thee therefore," Paul wrote to Timothy, "before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." [2 Timothy 4:1-5.] In this charge every minister has his work outlined,--a work that he can do only through the fulfilment of the promise that Jesus gave to His disciples, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end." [Matthew 28:20.] {GW 16.3}[11]
Ministers of the gospel, God's messengers to their fellow-men, should never lose sight of their mission and their responsibilities. If they lose their connection with heaven, they are in greater danger than others, and can exert a stronger influence for wrong. Satan watches them continually, waiting for some weakness to develop, through which he may make a successful attack upon them. And how he triumphs when he succeeds! for an ambassador for Christ, off his guard, allows the great adversary to secure many souls to himself. {GW 17.1}[12]
The true minister will do nothing that would belittle his sacred office. He will be circumspect in deportment, and wise in his course of action. He will work as Christ worked; he will do as Christ did. He will use all his powers in carrying the tidings of salvation to those who know it not. A deep hunger for the righteousness of Christ will fill his heart. Feeling his need, he will seek earnestly for the power that must come to him before he can present in simplicity, truthfulness, and humility the truth as it is in Jesus. {GW 17.2}[13]
【Examples of Human Steadfastness 】
God's servants receive no honor or recognition from the world. Stephen was stoned because he preached Christ and Him crucified. Paul was imprisoned, beaten, stoned, and finally put to death, because he was a faithful messenger of God to the Gentiles. The apostle John was banished to the Isle of Patmos, "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." [Revelation 1:9.] These examples of human steadfastness in the might of divine power, are a witness to the world of the faithfulness of God's promises, of His abiding presence and sustaining grace. {GW 18.1}[14]
No hope of glorious immortality lights up the future of the enemies of God. The great military commander conquers nations, and shakes the armies of half the world; but he dies of disappointment, and in exile. The philosopher who ranges in thought through the universe, everywhere tracing the manifestations of God's power and delighting in their harmony, often fails to behold in these marvelous wonders the Hand that formed them all. "Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish." [Psalm 49:20.] But God's heroes of faith are heirs to an inheritance of greater value than any earthly riches,--an inheritance that will satisfy the longings of the soul. By the world they may be unknown and unacknowledged, but in the record books above they are enrolled as citizens of heaven, and an exalted greatness, an eternal weight of glory, will be theirs. {GW 18.2}[15]
The greatest work, the noblest effort, in which men can engage, is to point sinners to the Lamb of God. True ministers are co-laborers with the Lord in the accomplishment of His purposes. God says to them, Go, teach and preach Christ. Instruct and educate all who know not of His grace, His goodness, and His mercy. Teach the people. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" [Romans 10:14.] {GW 18.3}[16]
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! "Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." [Isaiah 52:7, 9, 10.] {GW 19.1}[17]
Workers for Christ are never to think, much less to speak, of failure in their work. The Lord Jesus is our efficiency in all things; His Spirit is to be our inspiration; and as we place ourselves in His hands, to be channels of light, our means of doing good will never be exhausted. We may draw upon His fulness, and receive of that grace which has no limit. {GW 19.2}[18]
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