ChS 244
(Christian Service 244)
God’s servants should be minutemen, ever ready to move as fast as His providence opens the way. Any delay on their part gives time for Satan to work to defeat them.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 423. (ChS 244.1) MC VC
His commandment-keeping people are to stand constantly in readiness for service.—Testimonies for the Church 8:247. (ChS 244.2) MC VC
Those who are really representatives of Christ are working for the good of others. They delight in advancing the cause of God both at home and abroad. They are seen and heard, and their influence is felt, at the prayer meeting. They will try to supply the place of the minister, whose labors they cannot have. They do not seek to exalt self, or to receive credit for doing a great work, but labor humbly, meekly, faithfully, doing small errands or doing a greater work, if necessary, because Christ has done so much for them.—The Review and Herald, September 6, 1881. (ChS 244.3) MC VC
Brave and True VC
What the church needs in these days of peril, is an army of workers who, like Paul, have educated themselves for usefulness, who have a deep experience in the things of God, and who are filled with earnestness and zeal. Sanctified, self-sacrificing men are needed; men who will not shun trial and responsibility; men who are brave and true; men in whose hearts Christ is formed “the hope of glory,”(Colossians 1:27) and who, with lips touched with holy fire, will “preach the word.” 2 Timothy 4:2. For want of such workers the cause of God languishes, and fatal errors, like a deadly poison, taint the morals and blight the hopes of a large part of the human race.—The Acts of the Apostles, 507. (ChS 244.4) MC VC
By aggressive warfare, in the midst of opposition, peril, loss, and human suffering, the work of soul-saving is to be carried forward. At a certain battle, when one of the regiments of the attacking force was being beaten back by the hordes of the enemy, the ensign in front stood his ground as the troops retreated. The captain shouted to him to bring back the colors, but the reply of the ensign was, “Bring the men up to the colors!” This is the work that devolves upon every faithful standard-bearer,—to bring the men up to the colors. The Lord calls for whole-heartedness. We all know that the sin of many professing Christians is that they lack the courage and energy to bring themselves and those connected with them up to the standard.—Testimonies for the Church 9:45, 46. (ChS 244.5) MC VC