Our Father by M. J. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1866

Our Father.

By M. J. Cottrell

WHAT a privilege we poor mortals have of going before the Creator of Heaven and earth, and saying, Our Father. To address the great God by that endearing title. Just think of it, of going to him who holds the existence of worlds in his hand; who reigns over an immensity, too great for our comprehension; Him to whom nothing is impossible; to have the privilege of calling such a being, Our Father, and of going to him and asking for whatsoever we may need, with the assurance that he will grant our requests, if we ask in faith nothing doubting. With such a Father, we truly ought to be the happiest of the happy.

Dear reader, do you feel that you cannot address the King of kings, and Lord of lords, the great Creator, by so familiar a title? that he is too far above you for you to approach him as a child would a parent? If so, is it not for the reason that you regard him as a God of justice only, instead of a God of love? We are told that he is love, and if we consider his care for us, we see, that as a kind, loving parent, he orders all things for our good. And Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father." Oh, it is sweet, to feel, when trials come, that the great God is our Father; that we may go to him and tell all our sorrows; that his ear is open to our petitions, and that it is pleasing to him, for us thus to come.

In whatever may be before us, trials and temptations, darkness and dangers, he will grant us grace, wisdom, and strength, and if we truly trust him, reach up and cling to his almighty arm, he will lead us safely through. Then let us strive to so live, that we may ever feel that we have a right to the precious privilege of calling the great God, Our Father.

M. J. COTTRELL.