Daily Lesson for May 10, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 through 16:

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

In my benediction each week I say, "The world needs your light."

It does. We do.

The hopeless and afraid need a light to know that that are people out there to come and be a part of.

Those walking in darkness need a light to show them the next step.

A student needs the light to open their mind and also their soul.

The vulnerable need a light so the wolf can be warned, "This is no place to prowl."

The closeted need a light to know that maybe one day they too can live out in the open.

A mother needs to see the light of life once again in the eyes of her child.

The world really does need your light.

And that's why the first thing God said was, "Let there be light."

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

Daily Lesson for May 9, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 through 10:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus saw them, the scriptures say:

The poor, the desperate, the grieving, the aggrieved, the abused, those who have lost all hope for the future, those imprisoned in the past, the ones struggling to forgive, the ones struggling to make peace, the people who would jump up and down and cry and yell and even scream if they thought it would do any good, those who can’t breathe, those who can’t move, those who can’t stay — but must, the sick, the disabled, the raging, the resigned, todos los pobres de la tierra.

He saw them all; and he called them Blessed.

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

Daily Lesson for May 6, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 4 verse 12:

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.”

Jesus withdrew. 

After the stunning and traumatic arrest of his cousin and mentor, Jesus withdrew to near the Sea of Galilee.

It was there that he set up his home base and began to connect and organize with others. He withdrew into a place of safety, got his bearings, and began to plan and prepare with others. 

You may need to withdraw right now. You may need to find a place of safety and sanctuary. You may need to find others who will care for you physically and emotionally. 

Jesus withdrew. Don’t think you shouldn’t have to. 

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

Daily Lesson for May 5, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Exodus chapter 20 verse 7:

“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.”

Last year my friend Pastor Michael Bell and a couple other clergy colleagues addressed the FWISD School Board regarding CRT and what — as Pastor Bell said — a “hobgoblin” it is.

Later in the meeting, someone on the opposite side of the CRT debate stood up to criticize us pastors for not mentioning the name Jesus in our remarks. My immediate reaction was to remember those in the Bible who said to Jesus, “Did we not do many things in your name.”  Yes, they did; and Jesus wasn’t happy about it. 

Blaspheme isn’t about using bad words. It’s about misusing good words.  

Be careful what you say and do in the Lord’s name.

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

Daily Lesson for May 4, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Psalm 38 verses 1 through 8:

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; *

do not punish me in your wrath.

2 For your arrows have already pierced me, *

and your hand presses hard upon me.

3 There is no health in my flesh,

because of your indignation; *

there is no soundness in my body, because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities overwhelm me; *

like a heavy burden they are too much for me to bear.

5 My wounds stink and fester *

by reason of my foolishness.

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; *

I go about in mourning all the day long.

7 My loins are filled with searing pain; *

there is no health in my body.

8 I am utterly numb and crushed; *

I wail, because of the groaning of my heart.

Last year, I read Brad Kelle’s book “The Bible and Moral Injury: Reading Scripture Alongside War’s Hidden Wounds”.

There are many hidden wounds in the Bible.  There are also many hidden wounds in all of us. 

The ugliness of our public discourse or simply seemingly-ordinary conversation dredges up all kinds of sorrow and pain. 

Victims are made into criminals. The helpless are made to hurt.  The past comes back to punish and haunt. Unseen wounds are reopened. 

Please be gentle and kind to one another.

Understand, the person before you — in person or on social media — may be carrying many, heavy stones. 

If we knew, we would see — they are a miracle. 

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

Daily Lesson for May 3, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Colossians chapter 1 verses 11 and 12:

11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father . . .

We need to be made strong now. 

We need to be prepared to endure. 

Powerful forces are at work now to put in order a certain moral vision for the United States of America. 

The separation of church and state is being abrogated. 

Guaranteed rights are being challenged, curtailed, and left to state legislatures to decide. State legislatures!

The ultimate right that buttresses and protects all other rights — the right to vote — has been whaled.

We must draw strength now, friends. We have to organize. We have to stand firm. We have to resist. And we have to endure.

Open your eyes, beloved. Summon your strength and your spirit. It’s a long road to freedom, and hard as the times are and we have to keep walking. 

We cannot be overcome. 

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

Daily Lesson for May 2, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Exodus 18 verses

14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?’ 15Moses said to his father-in-law, ‘Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.’ 17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. 18You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.’

John Ortberg once said that leadership is “disappointing the people at a rate they can stand.”

One way to really disappoint people is to take on too much. 

This is a spiritual malady, an inability or unwillingness to recognize boundary and limitation, and a real ego trip. 

It’s also a prescription for crashing and burning and losing a whole lot of credibility in the eyes of others. 

We can’t do it all. We definitely can’t do it all alone. We need others to help. We need others to lead.  That means we’ve got to learn to share the burden. 

With al that is at stake right now, we are tempted to move on every front. Every cause, every case, every good and bad thing to stand up for or against. 

But surely, as Moses’ father-in-law said, we’ll wear ourselves out, and the people too.

Every week at the end of the service, in the way of benediction, my dear pastor friend Kyle Childress has the people stand up and hold hands.  “Hold on tight,” he says, “because we’re going to need each other.”

We really do.  

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