"Beyond the sacred page I see thee, Lord."

Hymn: “Break Thou the Bread of Life” – Mary A. Lathbury (1841-1913)

Tune: BREAD OF LIFE

Finding God beyond the written Word is part of the Christian maturing process.

There was a time in most of our lives when we looked only to scripture to find what God was saying to us or doing around us. When you’re in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, there is so much emphasis on the Bible itself that we zero in on that book when we are looking for God and his answers to our dilemmas. That’s not a bad thing, but it IS a very limited approach.

I still have the Bible I first carried with me to church – partly to read, partly to be able to check “Bible Brought” on my offering envelope! It was black leather and had a zipper to protect the pages. It did not have those little tabs that helped you find the books of the Bible because my mother thought one should find those on their own; she was after all the associational director of the Sword Drill. (Ask a middle-aged Baptist if you don’t know what that is!) The Book that contained God’s message to his people was very important to me – still is.

Somewhere along my spiritual journey I realized that God spoke to me beyond the sacred pages… that I could find him very much alive in nature… that I could see him in the lives of people around me and hear him in their words of encouragement and teaching. As long as what those people were doing and saying was in keeping with the teachings of that little zippered black book, I could be enriched and edified by human interaction.

The communicating faithful led me to think outside the book… beyond the sacred page. They widened my horizons and helped me turn some important corners in my pilgrimage of faith.

Lots of people write lots of books and are on lots of television and radio shows, producing lots of video series, etc. Most of them are doing that for the right reasons, I’m sure – and I’ve learned many things from them. But it’s the everyday genuine FOJ – follower of Jesus – whose life and comments continue to shape my walk.

When I sing this hymn-line, I visualize myself looking over the top edge of a page, beyond the zipper’s regular pattern to see God. In other words, I hear him in other words… and see him in other faces.

Thankfully, beyond Revelation 22:21, I see you, Lord.

Listen to This Hymn Played at the Organ

Not great, but I couldn't find a good recording

of anyone singing this one... or playing it well!