Then Jesus told His disciples, and He tells us too, "Ask, and it shall
be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you." For, said He, "every one that asketh receiveth; and he that
seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." If we
ask for those things that God sees to be good for us, we may certainly
expect to receive them. Let us ask God to keep us every day; and to
give us such things as He knows will be for our good.

[Illustration: IMPORTUNITY REWARDED.]




THE UNMERCIFUL SERVANT.


A certain King took account of his servants and began to reckon what
they owed him. And there was brought to him one that owed him nearly
_ten million dollars_. But as he had not the money to pay, the King
commanded that he should be sold, together with his wife and children
and everything that he had, that payment might be made. Then the
servant fell down before the King and worshipped him, saying, "Lord,
have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." Then the King had
compassion on his servant, and loosed him, and forgave him his debt.

But when that servant had gone out from the presence of the King, he
found a fellow-servant who owed him a little over _fifteen dollars_,
and he laid hands on him and seized him by the throat, saying, "Pay me
that which thou owest." And his fellow-servant fell down at his feet