Evening star., 1919-04-05
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

During the next two quarters "A
series of torical studies about Some
Great Teachings of the Bible" will be
studied in the Sunday schools Of the
world. This second series of topical
lessons is probably the most important
and instructive course Of studies that
has ever been outlined by the inter
national lesson committee. They are
planned to answer the problems pre-
sented by the inquiring mind of mil
lions whose interest in the study of
religious questions has been aroused
by the world war. The lessons are
positive and practical. They will help
many soul by their constructive
character to possess A faith in the
realities of the spiritual life that will
be demonstrated in their daily life.
These lessons should aid in building
up the kingdom of God among men.
Can l believe in God, the Father.
has been serious question to many
a soul during the trying times through
which the world has been passing.
The hour of storms. shipwrecks and
suffering has made 1t a difficult ques-
tion. fer it has not been easy to say
Our Father amid the darkness.
diSappointmerts and deaths of the
hour. The soldier. sailor and scien-
lists have had to solve the problem
of the preacher. psychologist and
pastor concerning God. It has been
question of the street. shop and store
in the hours of trial, trouble and train
ing.
Reason has found defects in the ar
eumentS of logic. although 1T is evi-
dent that the world never came into
being by chance. Its very existence
furnishes evidence that some cause
brought it into being. It's design calls
for designer. Its marvellous laws
factory answer is found in doing the
Lords will, for he that doeth His will
! comes to know the doctrine. In the
experience of a life that seeks to
glorify the Master by obeying. who
summed up His teaching concerning
hood of God" 1t was not a new term.
for Of old God had been called Father.
| but Jesus. who knew Himself as Gods
own Son. thrilled men when He as
sured them that they. too. might be-
! come the sons of God and call Him
! Father
When men today say they believe in
God. the Father Almighty. they sell
dom realize what conceptions men
had Of God when Jesus filled their
| thoughts with the vision Of the Fa-
ltherhood Of God. 1t has Influenced all
subsequent HlSlOFy, yet CONlpdTdtlye-
Ily few men have really Rrasped the
fact that the eternal spirit, who In
holy love creates. sustains and or
ders ALL" is their Father. Luke in his
genealogical tree of the Lord traced
the line from Jesus. the son Gas was
supposedly of Joseph" back to Adam,
the Son of God" evidently having in
mind the relationship that God helea
to all men as the creator. He planned
for the coming Of men in the creation
| just as human father prepares for the
coming of his own. God was provid
ing for men when He planned for and
placed the petroleum, coal. copper.
gold and silver in the earth He has
always cared for those who depended
upon Him.
The Father realized His responsible
ity for humanity when He provided
( for their salvation through His gift Of
His only begotten Son. Jesus was in
While Jesus taught men to pray to
God as "Our Father" the fact that
He never associates Himself with
them is of itself evidence that Christ
recognized that there was a differ
ence in his sonship from that of those,
the sons of God. While in a sense all
men. even the most evil. may be call
ed the sons Of God: that is. they are
designed for fellowship with God and
! by virtue of their moral nature are
capable Of obedience and love to
| live the life of love in fellowship with
God who know that He is the Father
Almighty.
Jesus never tried to define God be-
yond calling Him Father. He is more
and beyond all definitions. This does
not mean that the invisible. infinite
and omipotent Creator and Ruler Of
this universe Jesus revealed to men
as Our Father can't be known and
understood. We may come to know
Him through our own consciousness
Man has a body. but is a spirit. and
that is as a being who thinks and
feels and wills. These are the es-
sential powers of spirit, and it is
from our own possession Of these that
we may come to know the Father.
because God is spirit. The selection
from Christ's sermon on the mount
emphasizes not only the Fatherhood
Of God. but also the duties Of His
children.
The privilege, power and pleasure
the believer who through faith in
Jesus has come into the knowledge
of his relationship to God certain oh
legations. One realizes the duty of a
child to care for his parents in their
parents all of the child's income in
early life. The Christian IS called
upon to give God tand he will comply
willingly, IL he really knows HIM as
his Father), an undivided service. The
failure to enjoy ones life in Christ
can be traced to ones trying to serve
God and mammon, when he ought to
serve the Father and make inammcn
to be his servant IN advancing the
kingdom of God.
The appeal to the highest ideals
has found a response in the world that
was hungering after the peace Of God.
It will substitute mutual helpfulness
in place Of antagonism. The privilege
of serving God and humanity Is the
new motive for labor that love for
the Father has given to the men who
are seeking to establish the Kingdom
of God in the world through. the
brotherhood of man. t..-