10.25.06
Beyond the Sacred Page
by Bobby Valentine
When I was growing up, I did not understand what it meant to worship God. And I may not now. Oh, I knew about "going to church" and not singing with an instrument. I knew about taking communion every Sunday too. But I did not know what worship was or really how to do it. In fact I was a fifth year senior in "Bible College" before it dawned on me that I did not know how to worship God.
It happened on a mission trip to Pensacola, Florida in 1992. The Spirit had used me to lead a lady to the Lord. After her baptism she requested something of me that no one had ever asked before. She said, "Bobby can you teach me how to worship Jesus?" I was so stunned I was at a loss for words. I stammered some non-sense about "just attend worship" but it was a hallow answer devoid of any real meaning.
I came home from that trip despondant. Here I was attempting to "win souls for Christ" and discovered I was the one needing to be found. It soon became evident that I was not the only one who did not know how to worship. Sure I could go through some prescribed "acts" but I did not worship, really worship!
Not long after this the preacher where I attended led us in "Break Thou the Bread of Life" by Mary Lathbury. The words of that hymn I had sung before, yet for the first time their meaning hit my heart:
"Break Thou the bread of Life, Dear Lord to Me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page, I see Thee, Lord; my spirit
pants for Thee, O Living Word."
It dawned on my that my spirit did not pant for the Living Word. I had never sought the Lord beyond the sacred page. I didn’t know how to worship because I did not know who the Living Word was. I knew a book, a sacred page, but not the Living Word.
I learned to worship when I learned I don’t have a relationship with a book but with a person, a Savior. I learned to worship when I sought Jesus and not a ritual. I learned I could only encounter the Living Word beyond the sacre page. Seek Jesus. Once you really see him, then we may join Mary Lathbury and say "My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word."
Bobby Valentine