Daily Lesson for December 9, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Revelation chapter 2 verse 17

17Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.

An old Methodist pastor I once knew used to give a name to the faithful of his flock who departed in death.

He gave names like "Faithful", "Courageous", "Pure of Heart", "Servant", "Singer". It was always a moment of anticipation as the congregation gathered to hear the name the pastor would give.

There is a name for us that none knows, but that we and all the angels long to hear.

We shall taste of the hidden manna -- the bread hidden in the secret storehouse of God. It shall revive us. And we shall be given the clear stone -- the diamond -- on which is written our true names, the names of our hearts.

Be faithful, beloved. Press on, hold out, and serve ahead. And the one whose name is greater than all names will reward you with a name that the heavens wait for, and will one day Amen.

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

Daily Lesson for December 8, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Revelation chapter 2 verses 2 and 3:

2 ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance . . . 3 I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

This is a Lesson for the Christian who has grown weary in well doing.

The journey is long, and the obstacles are substantial. Opposition is ever-present and progress is really slow.

We can be tempted towards anger and even hatred.

But we must not grow weary in our well-doing. We must not succumb to frustration and exhaustion. The love we had at first cannot grow cold.

St. Paul said it best, "If we have faith to move mountains, give all my money away to the poor, hand my body over to be utterly used up in the cause, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Hold on to love dear ones. And do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

And keep on overcoming.

For the night is long; and the world needs your light.

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

Daily Lesson for December 7, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Psalm 28 verses 1 and 2:

1 O Lord, I call to you;

my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry; *

lest, if you do not hear me,

I become like those who go down to the Pit.

2 Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, *

when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.

Today is the Feast Day St. Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan, and one of the most influential figures in early medieval Christianity.

It was Bishop Ambrose to whom Monica, the mother of a young, and very wayward son, and not yet at all "saint", Augustine came in distress and tears. She was worried to a point of anguish over Augustine's life and choices.

Ambrose, in beautiful words have shared often with worried parents over the years, told Monica that God could "not turn his back upon the son of these tears."

For all who worry and anguish over children, may you receive this word this morning.

God will not turn God's back from the children of your tears.

God bless you, and God bless and keep your beloved.

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

Daily Lesson for December 6, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Revelation chapter 1 verses 4 through 6:

"Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Last night Broadway hosted it's annual Messiah Sing Concert. How wonderful to hear the beauty of Handel's music sung in our church's sanctuary -- even if through masks.

Of course, everyone was waiting for the Hallelujah Chorus. And when it came there was joy and elation. The hallelujah which had been silenced and missing was heard and together the last words were sung:

"He shall reign for ever and ever . . .

Amen."

The words come from this morning's Lesson in Revelation. They were originally written as a kind of apocalyptic protest. The kings of the world were corrupt and cruel. Some were mad. They persecuted and killed the saints and terrorized the earth.

But there is another kind of King.

"King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."

And He shall reign forever and ever . . . Amen.

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

Daily Lesson for December 3, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Jude 8-10:

8 Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones. 9But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ 10But these people slander whatever they do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals, they know by instinct.

We're contending with the devil today.

We're in those final days of the liturgical year and the Daily Office gives us Scriptures about the devil, and angels, and spirits of another realm. Next week we will begin Revelation.

There are various translations to this selection I have chosen this morning, some of which change the meaning entirely. The King James Version is close to the one above saying that in his fight with the devil Moses "durst not bring against him a railing accusation."

Moses didn't rail. He didn't blaspheme. He didn't resort to lies and slander and maliciousness. He let the truth speak for itself.

We are in an age where what is said this morning is true. People "slander whatever they do not understand". Think about the science of masks and vaccinations. They are slandered; and as the Scripture goes on to say, the people who slander them end up being destroyed, "like irrational animals" who act only according to instinct.

We have animal instincts. But we also have rational minds. Let's use them.

And, let's continue to use rationality and not slander, malicious lies, rumors, and innuendo to speak our truth.

We are indeed contending with the devil. So let us be wise as serpents, gentle as doves, and as true to the honest truth as our Lord, on whose side we contend and whose name, we must remember, we represent -- even in the dirtiest of fights.

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

Daily Lesson for December 2, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 21 verses 42 through 44:

42 Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is amazing in our eyes”?

43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’

Listen to your life. Watch it and see it. See what is happening.

See what is happening to you and through you.

It may be that the very thing for which you are now being rejected will become the very reason for the digging and the setting of a whole new foundation upon which you will make your life.

The poor, rejected stone may end up being the stone of salvation for yourself and many, many others just like you.

It may be that today's rejected stone will be the stone of happiness tomorrow.

It is strong enough to happen.

You are strong enough to see it happen.

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

Daily Lesson for December 1, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 2 Peter chapter 3 verses 8 through 10:

8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Advent is the season of preparation. We get ready for the coming of the Lord. This is the reason why we Scriptures in early Advent speak of end times -- for the times in which we are living will eventually end, and we need to be ready.

The bottom will fall out. The stock market will turn. The materials will no longer have the appetite of the consumer. Death will come like a thief in the night -- and even 100, it's still sudden.

For now, we have time. We have today. We have whatever time is left in order to get ready.

The seasons will change. The tides will turn. Maybe the sky will fall in. It could be a hell of a thing. It will be a hell of a thing.

Heaven and earth will pass away; but the word of God will not pass away.

So let's clear our consciences, repent of mistakes, make amends, and re-devote ourselves to the simple things -- loving God and loving neighbor.

There's still time. Let's make the most of it . . .

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