May 2

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. - Matthew 6:33.

RELIGION should be our supreme concern. A man who feels the infinite importance attached to the soul and eternity will be praying to the Lord, “Give me a token for good;” “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation;” “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” “Remember me, O Lord, with the favour thou bearest unto thy people;” “Oh, visit me with thy salvation, that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, and glory with thine inheritance.” And religion. should be our immediate concern. Our eternal happiness depends upon our relation to it and our interest in it. This life is our only opportunity to attain it, and this season is not only short, but uncertain. With some, while they have hesitated and lingered, the opportunity has been irrecoverably lost; therefore we are urged to “seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near.” And for our encouragement, the Scriptures have assured us that we shall not, cannot, seek in vain.

All things are now ready. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;” and, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” The things which we so earnestly seek after, concerning which we may think how happy we should feel if we could make them our own, are perishing in their using; they afford no satisfaction in the enjoyment. These things cannot profit us in the day of wrath, nor deliver us from death; and yet these are the things for which we are in danger of envying the men of the world, who have their portion in this life. Is it not time for us to grow wiser, and to regulate our desires and pursuits by the judgment of God, which is always according to truth? If we search the Scriptures we shall find that they, and they alone, are wise, safe, and happy, who, while many are saying, “Who will show us any good?” can say, “Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased;” who, while they are seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, find that these things also are added thereunto.