1. How does God preserve you? 2. What must you do to preserve your life and body? 3. Where has God shown that He can preserve us without any means? 4. In what manner does God generally preserve us? 5. Which of the things that are needed to support our life and body does our Catechism mention? 6. Who gave me all the good things I have? 7. In what way does God generally provide us with the things necessary for our life? 8. When, for instance, did God show that He can provide for us without the labor of our hands? 9. What, however, is God's rule in this matter? 10. Can you show that God provides for us even though we work to earn our living? 11. How does God provide you with all that is needed for your life? 12. Why can He provide richly for His children? 13. What more does God do to preserve us? 14. Give examples of God's protecting care over His children. 15. What is our consolation when we have troubles and misfortunes? 16. Whom does God often send forth to protect His children? 17. What do we read Ps. 37,5? LESSON 17. The First Article. God Has Made Me And Preserves Me Out Of Fatherly, Divine Goodness And Mercy. Which is the First Article of the Creed? _I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth._ What does this mean? _I believe that God does all this out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without an merit or worthiness in me._ 1. We have learned that God has _made_ me by giving me my body and soul, and that He still _preserves_ me by giving me richly and daily all that I need for life and body, by guarding and protecting me from all evil. Now we ask, _Why has God done all this for me?_ Our Catechism answers: He has done _"all this purely out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy."_ This answer is taken from the Word of God. _"The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works."_ Ps. 145,9.-- God is moved by His _goodness_ to bestow His manifold blessings on us. _Our God is good._ Ps. 118,1. He loves all His creatures, especially those whom in Holy Baptism and through faith in Jesus Christ He has accepted as His children. He wishes to make them happy here on earth and above all, eternally in heaven. He also loves you; therefore He has formed your body so beautifully and given you an immortal soul; therefore He provides you with all that is needed for your life and body, and does this richly and daily. 2. God is moved by His _mercy_ to provide for me and protect me. _"His tender mercies are over all His works." Our God is a merciful God._ He knows that without Him, without His provident care, we are helpless, unable to support our life, not even for a single day. And He has compassion on us. He does not like to see His children in need and danger. His tender mercies are over you also; therefore He feeds and clothes you through your parents or friends; therefore He guards and protects you, His child.