THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CORNER.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 27, Issue 6, 1 June 1937, Page 4

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CORNER.

.My Dear Girls and Boys,— We had a talk last month about Our Lord's return into the very Presence of God, His Father. Can you remember the name of the day which we keep m memory of His return? He left His Apostles to carry on His work, but He promised them a Helper. Shall we find out exactly what Our Lord did say? Take your Bibles and turn to the New Testament, and after the Gospel of St. John you will find a book called The Acts of the Apostles. Look at the eighth verse m chapter one. Jesus is speaking, and what does He say? We know that Jesus says that to us today. He still sends His power through the Holy Spirit when we are confirmed. He still needs us to be His witnesses m the world. Whatever colour His children are, whatever country they live m, He wants them all to be His witnesses. What is a witness? You all belong to a family. When you go from your home to school, or to visit your friends, you try to behave as your parents have taught you. If your manners are good, and your play is unselfish and

fair, and if you are honest and courageous at all times, you bring credit upon your family. You are a good witness to the love and care which your family has given you. But just the opposite is true. If you forget yourselves, and misbehave, you bring disgrace upon your family. You are then a bad witness. Now all baptised people belong to ■God's Family. If we are true to what Our Lord taught us, we will bring credit upon His Family and upon our family m which we live. Just think of this. People know that we say we are Christians, and they watch us to see what Christianity is. If we bring credit upon Christ we are good witnesses. Here is a story of a good witness. In a town a short distance from London, there lived a soldier named Alban. He was a wealthy Roman .soldier, who knew nothing about God and nothing about our Lord Jesus Christ. He was, however, kindhearted and generous, and he gave •orders to his servants that poor people or travellers who came to his .house were to be given food and shelter. One night his servants came to Alban and told him that an old man was begging shelter for the night. The visitor was shown into Alban's presence, and he said: "I am a Christian and I am trying to hide from my enemies; God forgive them." Alban was astonished — this man prayed for his enemies. "Do you pray for your enemies?" he asked. "Yes," said the old Christian priest; ""I follow and serve Someone who died to save the souls of His enemies." Then, unafraid of this Roman soldier, who could imprison him, he told the story, of Jesus which you know •so well. He spoke of his loving, healing and gracious works, of His death upon the Cross, and of His glorious Resurrection and Ascension. As Alban listened, God touched his heart. He believed, and began to love Jesus, and he became a Christian. Next evening the Roman soldiers gathered round the door of Alban's house. They had traced the old Christian priest to this town, and they asked for news of him. The servants were frightened arid ex-

cited, but the old priest was sad to think that he had brought trouble upon Alban. Suddenly his cloak was pulled off him, and he felt the rich clothes of Alban flung around him. Then Alban, wrapped up m the priest's cloak, which he pulled well over his face, went out to face the soldiers. The soldiers, thinking that they had found the prisoner, dragged him before the Governor. When has face was uncovered they saw their friend and soldier brother, Alban. The Governor was angry with Alban, but he told him to throw some incense on to the altar of a Roman god or else he must die. Alban, with courage and joy 1 m his heart, said: "My Master is Lord Jesus." He was led out into a field to have his head cut off. The executioner, looking oh Alban, saw m his eyes, instead of fear, love, courage and joy, and he fell on his knees, saying: "I will not kill you. I, too, will serve the God whom you serve." He was immediately taken prisoner, and Alban, at the hands of another, witnessed to the love of Jesus and died a martyr's death. That story is centred round one man, but there are three witnesses to the love and power of Our Lord m the hearts of men. To-day, m this country, we are not called upon to die because we are. Christians; but we are called to live every day as a true witness and Christian. Perhaps you would take this prayer to help you m your daily lives. I suggest that you buy a penny notebook, and keep it as a book m which you write prayers you want to say, and perhaps prayers which you make up yourselves. O Heavenly Father, — Who by Thy Son Our Lord didst command us To be Thy witnesses m the world. Keep us faithful to our trust. Help us to think right thoughts, to speak true words, and to do good actions. May Thy light shine m us and through us to the world, That all may know, and love and honour Thse.