acts to others is no love at all. The fin est commentary on how true love ex presses itself in relation to others is found in First Corinthians, chapter thirteen. True love strips itself in order to adorn the object of its affection. True Love Is Intercessory (19:1-6) In his insane jealousy, Saul was bent upon putting David to death. This was the third such attempt. These were .very dark days for David. What would Saul’s son do under these circumstances? Would he endanger his own,position in the royal household by extending a help ing hand to David? The easiest thing for him to do was to do nothing. After all, Saul was his father, and “blood is thicker than water.” Why should Jona than interfere with the king’s design?
But true love cannot take this atti tude; it piust minister in time of need. So we find Jonathan interceding with his father on behalf of David. He de scribed all the good qualities of his friend and then showed Saul what a sin it was to slay such a man. As a result, the king’s jealousy was allayed for the time being, and David’s life was again spared. True love ever seeks opportunities to speak a good word for those unjustly treated, even though it may mean sac rifice. The greatest Lover of all is con tinually doing this sort of thing for His friends. The accuser of the brethren is continually bringing his charges against the people of God (Rev. 12:10), but the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavens an swers those accusations before the Fa ther to the advantage of those accused. See 1 John 2:1-2.
Helps for the Children A Prince Shares with a Shepherd (1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-7; 20:3, 4, 11-13, 27-35, 41, 42) Memory Verse: “A friend, loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adver sity” (Proverbs 17:17). Prince Jonathan’s dearest friend was not another prince or a famous or weal thy young man, but a humble shepherd boy, David. Jonathan’s father, King Saul, caused David to live in the palace because of his son’s love for him. Jona than and David made a covenant (a promise) with one another. Jonathan took off his princely robes and his sword and bow and gave them to his friend to prove the greatness of his love for David. Eventually the king, Saul, became an gry with David and ordered Jonathan and his servants to kill him. Jonathan was very sad and he told David to hide until he could talk with Saul. Jonathan pleaded with the king to save his friend’s life. Saul listened to his son, and once again David was allowed to be in the king’s presence without fear. But soon Saul tried again to take David’s life. David hid in a field until he knew wheth er or not Jonathan could change his father’s mind. Saul’s anger was so great this time that Jonathan knew that his friend’s life was no longer safe near him. How could he get a message to David without Saul’s knowing about it? Jonathan took a boy to the field with him and told the lad to run and find the arrows as he shot them. He called to the boy, saying, “ Make speed, haste, stay not.” By this David knew that he was being warned to hurry away lest he be killed. After Jonathan had sent the boy back to the city, David came out of his hiding place. The two friends wept be cause they could no longer be together. With a prayer that the Lord would be with both of them, David left and Jon athan returned to the city. Being a true friend is not always easy. Jonathan risked his life for David. Christians should choose their best friends among those who love their Lord. Their love for the Great Friend, the Son of God, will make their friend ship stronger and sweeter than if only one of the friends were a child of God. Differences between Christians will be settled by prayer, and daily their friend ship will be more precious because of their love for their Lord, G O W N S P S • P u lp it and Cho ir • m jjm Headquarters fo r RELIGIOUS SUPPLIES
Typical Union Sunday school, with happy chil dren gathered from the rugged hills and valleys of Idaho.
Over a hundred lively young people at an Idaho A .S.S.U . Bible Conference. Just at the point of life-decisions, these youth are brought under the wise instruction and Christlike living of our earnest Missionaries and their teachers, with many resulting life-consecrations. Group of colored young people attending Bible conference near Salma, Ala. “ g ’ttrit a (L’hamu' In ÎTln'tr laura!
T HE old church building had long ago been closed and moved away," writes one earnest A.S.S.U. missionary from the far west, "and for many years the children had been without Gospel services, for it is now 35 miles to the nearest church. “ But four week'day services are now held for the children, and we also hold one for adults, each month. W e try to build up to a decision service, that they may really know what they are doing when they accept Christ. This month I gave my first invitation after carefully presenting the way of salvation. A hush fell upon the room, where forty'nine children were assembled; and twenty, largely from the older grades, eagerly accepted Christ as their Saviour. Then followed verses of assurance and instruction how they might live for Him. Faces glowed with a new radiance, and we are certain many passed from death unto life. “ Soon after these children began witness- ing in their homes, we received word from several of the parents asking us to visit them. When in' response to a letter, I called upon one woman who is very influential on the School Board, she said: 'There is such a change ip the lives of my children since they made their decision for Christ that some of us wonder if you would not help us to organize a regu- ■ lar Sunday School for all the adults as well.' So on the first Sunday possible, we held our first meeting with 24 present, the number increasing to 36 the second Sunday.'
Sixty-nine courts reported an increase of 56% in juvenile delinquency between 1938 and 1944. Children of 12 years and up are. becoming the youthful perpetrators of the most hideous crimes, recruited almost entirely from the ranks of the millions of boys and girls who are receiving no re ligious instruction. . There is but one remedy— the Gospel of our Lord' and Saviour Jesus Christ, preached in redeeming and transforming power. This is the mission of the A.S.S.U. to rural America — we have no other.
AMERICAN Sunday School Union
Jesus said: "G o out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Luke 14:18.) W ill your sponsorship go "W ith Christ along the Old Back Road?" For added information, write direct to Department of Missions, 1816-K Chestnut Street, Philadelphia 3, Pa.
WITH CHRIST ALONG THE OLD BACK ROAD
ESTABLISHED 1817
PIONEER SUNDAY SCHOOL ORGANIZATION OF THE U. S. A.
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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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