Daily Lesson for October 22, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 14 and 15:

13 Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. 14Let all that you do be done in love.

What beautiful benedictory words written at the end of Paul's long and loving, and sometime chiding, letter.

"Keep alert, stand firm, be courageous, be strong. Let all you do be done in love."

My soul is heartened by the power of the words from two thousand years ago, yet still so relevant today.

We need to alert, because it is a dangerous world out there.

We need to be firm, because the truth matters.

We need to be courageous, because God is the strength of our hearts, always.

We need to do everything out of and in love, because love is the greatest of all things and the measure of everything.

I don't know that I've ever really, fully taken in these verses in a conscious way. But clearly somewhere along the way they shaped my own benedictory words which I give at the end of the service every Sunday, and now share with you at the end of this work week and entering into the Sabbath:

"Depart now, beloved,

with Spirit of God in Christ in you.

For the world needs your light,

and your hope,

and your deep, deep, courage.

So go;

and be brave,

be strong,

be kind,

and be love.

Always be love.

Amen."

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.