The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-09-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Ia
Lesson v.-Fourth Quarter, For
Oct. 20, 1916.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, Acts xvii, 1925
Memory Verses, 22.24-GoIdsn Text,
Pc. xxxvii, 5commsntary Prepared
by Rev. o. N. Stearns.
Now Paul is of to Rome and has
been delivered from his enemies In
Jerusalem who so persistently sought
his life. But the devil is sometimes
permitted to rage on the sea as well
as on the land. and Paul has more trou-
bles ahead, but We shall see God glori-
fed in all. Then there are so many
'handfuls Of purpose to cheer Us
along the way ruth il, 10y and light
en- our journey. hope he enjoyed
the sea voyages, for to me they are 80
restful, and even storms are magni6-
Gently grand II one a keep a quiet
mind and body. He had at least one
good companion with whom he could
have good fellowship on the voyage.
Aristarchus of Thessalonica, who was
afterward a fellow prisoner with him
at Rome (verse 2 and Col. ~, 10Y.
At Sidon, where the ship called. Paul
was given liberty to go to his friends
and refresh himself (verse 81, and this
must have been a good handful and
much appreciated. They changed ships
at Myra, in Lycia, some distance south
east Of Ephesus, where they found a
ship from Alexandria bound for Italy.
They reached Crete safely, but, not
giving heed to Paurs advice to winter
there and thinking that they had a
favorable wind, they set sail. l shall
never forget one of the most enjoyable
sea trips of my life from Port Said, in
Egypt, to Brindisi, In Italy, in 1897.
After some months Of tropical heat I'm
China and India and the sail up the
Red sea, which the captain thought
must have been called Red because it
was red hot, l thought l never had
anything quite so enjoyable as that
sail. My diary for Sept. Is, 1897, says.
"Sighted Crete about noon and kept
along the southwest coast till night"
I was then writing notes on the Sun
day school lessons just as l am today
and have been doing in the summer
months ever since 1887. How great
have been my privileges! To Him be
all the glory. Pardon this depression
and give Paul and Crete the credit Of
1t. The tempestuous wind and the
being exceedingly tossed oversees IA. Is.
2O) did not come my way on the Medi-
terranean, but I have known some
thing of 1t on other seas and been kept
in peace.
This was certainly a great storm
that this ship fell into, for neither sun
nor stars were seen for many days.
and all hope Of surviving the storm
was given up Verse 2U. We think
| Of the works of the Lord and His won
ders in the deep and Of people at their
wits end and how He can make the
storm a calm or In some other way
deliver Ops. evil, 23-3O). After many
days and nights of this great storm
Paul had a visitor from heaven, an
angel Of God, either the Lord Himself,
as in xiii, II. or One Of His faithful
messengers, as In xii, 40. with a
word of good cheer for him and for all
on board. Oh. these wonderful angels
who excel in strength, who delight to
do His bidding, who can run and re-
turn like lightning! CPs. ciii, 20. 81;
Eek. 1, ~ They have no fear and
seem to have all power. Just think
of this one finding this ship in the
midst Of this great storm and the n
man on board Of all the 276 whom he
specially wanted (verse 80.
1t should comfort US to know that
such friends as these are ever minis
ter1ng unto US Heb. 1, 14). The next
day after this visit Of the angel Paul.
was able to comfort all on board. How
much even n person may do to help
others If he is in touch with Godl
Paul was able to assure them that
there would be no loss Of life. not q
hair of their heads harmed, and to In
courage them to eat something. for
they had eaten little or nothing for
fourteen days oversees %, 3 $3.50. Ne
took bread and gave thanks to God in
the presence of them all and began to
eat. Then they all did eat and we're
Of good cheer. Note Paul's message
concerning the angel visitor. "The IN
gel Of God, whose I am and whom I
serve" Verse 23), and may the last
seven words be ours always from the
heart. He certainly believed for him
self what he wrote to the Corinthians.
"Ye are not your own, for ye are
bought with a price" Il Cor. vi. 10. 20D.
If ever a man lived 1t Out he did;
and, knowing what it meant to serve
the Lord with all humility of mind, he
could urge others to serve the Living
and True God (Acts Xxx. 10; I Thess. l.
81. Then his words Of strength and
cheer to all these people were so grand,
with every prospect. humanity speak
ing, Of going down with the ship, and
no reason for thinking otherwise but
the message Of the angel. he said so
boldly, "Wherefore. sirs. be of good
cheer, for l believe God that it shall
be even as It was told me- (verse -.
And SO It came to pass, and they e.
capped all safe to land (verse AZ. We
think Of Abraham. who considered not
himself nor Sarah. but IA fully per
onodod that What God had nPOmiaaH