The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-10-02
GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
p LESSON TEXT-Genesis 1:26.28; Matthew
6:24-33.
GOLDEN TExT-our Father which art
in heaven, HalloWed be thy nama.-Nat.
thew 60.
Without God man has no hope in
this world. This is the teaching of
Scripture, which is confirmed By
experience and admitted by the
philosophers of men. Having no
hope and without God in the world,
says Paul (Eph. 2:12), and every
goddess philosophy paints the same
dark picture. Says one, at cannot
be doubted that the theistic belief
is comfort to those that hold it
and that the loss of it is a very
painful loss. We have seen the
spring sun shine out of an empty
heaven to light up a soulless earth;
we have felt with utter loneliness
that the Great Companion is dead
(Clifford).
That desolate and despairing con-
clusion need not be the lot of any
man, for we have in Gods own
Word clear revelation of Himself
as our Creator and our loving
Father. Why not accept it?
IaGod Our Creator (Gen. 1:26-28).
Both of our Scripture passages tell
us much about man, but in doing
so they reveal God.
l. How He Made Man wv. Is,
27). God created man in his own
image" ". ~. This does not refer
to any physical likeness, although
it is abundantly evident that mans
body is far above the animal level
and perfectly adapted to be the
dwelling place of the soul and the
instrument of its activity in a
physical world. Even the Son Of
God took upon Himself the body of
a man and, in its glorifed state,
still bears that body in heaven.
This means that mans body is
worthy of honor and considerate
care and use.
The real image of God in man is
a moral and spiritual likeness. Man
is a moral being, knowing the diff
ference between right and wrong.
He has alls the characteristics Of
personality, self-consciousness, in
telligence, feeling and will. That
image has been marred and defaced
by sin, but it is still there. Even
in the lowest man or woman it is
capable of being reached and trans
formed by the grace Of God.
2. How He Blessed Man w. 2899'
He gave man 'a help meet for hirl''
(Gen. 2:18); that is, a completely
suitable companion and helper. Ee
gave him dominion over the entire
earth, and his restless, pioneering
spirit still presses toward the com
plete realization of that promise.
He provided for every need Of man,
not only physical and social, but
also spiritual, for we read that He
walked with him Gin the cool of
the day" (Gen. 3:8), until man by
his own sin broke that fellowship.
Gods love toward His creation is
shown by His provision for mans
complete JOY and full usefulness.
II. God Our Heavenly Father
(Matt. 6;24-33).
Two things harass the mind and
heart of man-anXiety for today and
fear for tomorrow He must have
what he and his family needs for
today, and it is a constant struggle
for most men to meet that need.
Then, as though that were not
enough, there is always the NOR
rows new and possibly greater
needs. Even those who have all
they need today live in dread (and
we'll they may if they do not trust
God) that tomorrow or next week
or next year they too may be in
need. Our text meets both prob
lens, for it tells us
l. Why We Need Not Be Anxious
Today wv. 24-3D. The answer is
simple-look at the birds. They
cannot work, they are not even
able to pray, yet God feeds them.
Consider the glory of the flowers.
Even a king cannot dress IN such
beauty-God provided it for them.
"Are we not much better than
they?" ". 26).
No bird ever worried because it
did not have a meal laid by for to-
morrow, and no flower has fretted
itself lest its blossom failed to come
forth in its accustomed beauty.
Why should we be anxious?
Intelligent forethought is good and
proper, but anxiety about our daily
needs is always dishonoring to God.
He is ready and able to meet our
daily need.
2. Why We Need Not Fear To-
morrow wv. 80, 33). Your heaven
ly Father knoweth that yehaveneed "
". 32). Does not that settle the
whole future? 1t is in Gods hands,
and even if it were in our hands,
what could we do about it? Tomor-
row with its joys and sorrows is
not yet here, and when it does come
God will be here as a loving Father
to graciously provide for every
moment of it.
What then shall we do? Verse 80
tells us, "Seek We first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness.
Give God first place in your life
and He will see that all these
things" are added Simple, isn't it?
and blessedly true. Let's trust Him!