"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all." (i Tim. 4:15.) " Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49.)

We have here two expressions which are in Greek the same; literally, " Be in them,"-" I must be in the things of My Father." There is but one way to make progress in the things of God, and that is by being absorbed in them at all times. One hour of deliberate or permitted turning from His things to the world in any form will mar communion and hinder growth. Whatever we may be doing, we are to be in the things of God, as in an atmosphere. There is nothing hard in this. Will love refuse to be constantly occupied with its object ? Nothing will be neglected if we are thus wholly engaged in God's thoughts and His service. It is the divided heart that makes trouble. The very word for " care " in the Greek (merimna) speaks of the heart being divided-drawn in two directions. One object, one business is all we have. See our blessed Lord in the things of His Father in those years of childhood, as well as in His public ministry.