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
Donna said,
October 25, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Wow Bobby…that was great and very profound.Greg England said,
October 25, 2006 at 5:07 pm
I’ve come to expect excellence from you, Bobby, so let me say, “This was excellent!”pam said,
October 25, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Oh my goodness……you have described so much the spirit of worship that I long to achieve. I grew up in the Assemblies of God and am now “membershipped” (and have been for several years) with the CoC. Somewhere between those two extremes….with complete disregard for any ‘personal preference’ seems to lie the spirit of true worship. It’s a heart thing. An individual thing. A God-meets-man-where-man-lives sort of thing. I’m inspired by your Grace Note! love in Him, pamJohn Dobbs said,
October 26, 2006 at 7:34 am
Thank you, Bobby. This touches me in several different ways.Nancy said,
October 26, 2006 at 8:27 am
I love that hymn… Beautiful sentiments.Paula Harrington said,
October 26, 2006 at 3:38 pm
Very good post, Bobby. Isn’t it a wonderful experience when people realize that worshipping God isn’t a Sunday, Wednesday chore but a life experience! If we give our lives to God then each day, minute, and breath belongs to Him. Being a Christian isn’t what we do. It’s who we are. Keep encouraging others. You do a good job at it.Carl Hance said,
October 26, 2006 at 10:35 pm
Bobby, Your experience is one that many of us in the RM have experienced, especially those of us whe grew up acapella. But most of us cannot see where we are. We have occasional “worship experiences”, but do not even recognize them. I have stopped referring to what happens on Sunday morning as Bible Class and Worship, because so often worship doesn’t occur in that venue, but surprises us in the most unusual places and settings. As I began to learn to worship in spirit and in truth, I discovered that worship is what happens when I find myself in the Presence of the King of the Universe. Now I seek Him, and worship happens. May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. CarlTim Archer said,
October 27, 2006 at 9:02 am
Thanks, Bobby, for another insightful post. I think a lot of us need to really think about just what worship is. I don’t think that is because past generations didn’t know; my grandmother certainly knew what it was to worship God. Maybe it’s just one of those things that you have to discover for yourself. Anyway, thanks again for sharing.Bobby Valentine said,
October 27, 2006 at 11:01 am
Thanks for reading my short piece. My prayer is that God through his Spirit will help us all to come to know him beyond the sacred page. Shalom, Bobby ValentineKeith Brenton said,
November 2, 2006 at 9:00 pm
It’s a sad fact that there are churches which insist on singing that verse ” … within the sacred page / I seek Thee, Lord.”