We live in a world of much rush, haste and bustle. Never has there been a time when people have seemed so busy and yet all this with a shorter working week and apparently more leisure time.

Satan loves people to be so busy that they scarcely have time for a moment’s thought of eternal things in fact, not even a thought for the nobler things of this life.

The word “SELAH” is found continually in the Book of Psalms. It appears to indicate a pause in the music; so often we find that after something of great importance appears the word “SELAH”: stop, pause, think about it.

It must not be rushed. And what is written in Scripture is written on the heart of every sinner saved by grace.

Divine teaching will bring us each to stop, pause and “consider our latter end.”

“Pause, my soul, and ask the question, Art thou ready to meet God?”

The spirit of the age affects God’s people also.

How easy it is to be swallowed up with the rush and bustle of even lawful, even necessary things!

We need the loving rebuke of the Lord:
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful.”

Sometimes the voice of affliction is:
“Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile.”

It is easy to be carried away by the rush and bustle of religious activities.

Were there ever so many services?

Was there ever so much preaching?

But what of the effect?

This is a word specially to gospel preachers.

The recent reading of the life of a well-known preacher of the last century brought this solemnly home. How he was taught the vital importance of drawing nigh even into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, and seeking to dwell there!

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide beneath the shadow of the Almighty.”

It seems that today there is a wrong balance. We have as much preaching, as many services as the saints of old and, we believe, the same truth. But they were blessed with much nearness, much communion with the Lord, much of the Spirit, much wrestling in prayer.

If we preach much, and pray not as much, there will be little fruit of our ministry.

O for grace to be found waiting daily, hourly, on the Lord!

By B.A. Ramsbottom