Daily Lesson for April 30, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Psalm 40 verses 12 through 14:

12 You are the Lord;

do not withhold your compassion from me; *

let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,

13 For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me;

my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see; *

they are more in number than the hairs of my head,

and my heart fails me.

14 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; *

O Lord, make haste to help me.

I love this psalm and especially its 13th verse and the poignant and powerful words, "I cannot see."

What cannot be seen? A way forward? A way out? A way through? The sun? The future? How in the world he'll hold out or hold on?

Perhaps all these things.

The writer is overwhelmed. He is overcome. He is distraught. His sins have found him out. His life has fallen apart. As he says, his heart has failed him.

Yet, as St. John said in his Gospel, "when our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts."

The Psalmist cannot see. He cannot feel. He is absolutely numb to all sense of hope or future. And what would I tell him? To hold on.

And as first verse of the Psalm says, "I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined unto me and heard my cry."

Sometimes, when our hearts are so broken we can't hardly move, there is nothing we can do but wait, and pray, and as the old saying goes, tie a knot at the end of the rope and try to hold on for another day.

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

Daily Lesson for April 29, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 6 verses 43 through 45:

43 ‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

As a pastor and a friend, I want you to know that you can believe your eyes. You can believe your ears. And so when you see something going on that doesn't seem right, or hear something that doesn't sound right, trust yourself.

There is so much gas lighting that goes on out there. People say one thing then do another. Or, they say something then deny ever having said it -- even when its recorded!

But you can trust your ears, and your eyes, and your gut. And if something tells you something's wrong, it probably is.

Peaches aren't picked from bramble bushes nor tumble weeds; and as Maya Angelou said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them."

And believe yourself too.

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

Daily Lesson for April 28, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from the book of Wisdom chapter 4 verse 16:

The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living,

and youth that is quickly ended will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous.

We have opened our church back up in limited capacity and are planning for further re-openings this summer on into the fall. We give thanks for the vaccines that have allowed us to do so.

But even as these plans are under way, we read the headlines coming out of India and they are ghastly. This pandemic is not over. People are still dying in the thousands and tens of thousands. And we who have been vaccinated still have responsibility to bear.

I am glad the United States has made a decision to assist with vaccines in India. We have a responsibility to help provide vaccines not only in India but around the globe.

The Scriptures teach us over, and over again that we have a responsibility to our fellow humanity. This responsibility is beyond self, beyond family, and beyond tribe, and beyond border.

God does not see the same lines of separation we see on the globe. Neither does the virus, nor -- according to today's Lesson -- it's victims.

Let's continue to be safe, careful, kind, and compassionate. We still have responsibilities to bear and will one day have to give an account for what we've done and left undone, how we helped, and how we hurt.

And Jesus said something like, "And when my people were sick, you helped."

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

Daily Lesson for April 27, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 6 verses 12 through 16:

12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles: 14Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot, 16and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Before Jesus made his selection of the twelve disciples he spent long hours in devoted and intentional prayer, focused on the decisions of the future and asking God's help in discerning the way forward. He Himself did not know the way; but He asked God for wisdom and direction, and guidance over what he was to do and whom he was to do it with.

Jesus could have confidence in choosing the path and people before Him, because he had prayed, sought God's wisdom, and now trusted Himself to act with faith and confidence.

When we face difficult choices, or decisions which we know will determine much, our prayers can be our guide to being at peace within our own spirits. Prayer puts us in the will of God; and in the will of God there are no wrong decisions -- no matter what or whom we choose.

Facing a big decision? Pray about it; then be at peace. Even if you choose Judas, trust and be at peace.

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

Daily Lesson for April 26, 2021

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Colossians chapter 1 verses 9 through 11:

9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure.

Have you told someone lately that you are praying for them?

Have you prayed for someone lately?

I don’t understand the mystery of prayer. I don’t know how it works. But I do know that Jesus prayed for his disciples and told his disciples to pray for one another. And I know that throughout the ages the saints have taken that instruction seriously. 

I also know that I find great strength and encouragement when people tell me they are praying for me. I believe them. And I believe God is working through them — even if I don’t quite understand how. 

And this is my prayer for you today, beloved: that you would be strengthened with all of the grace and peace of Christ Jesus our Lord, and that you would then not fear anyone or anything because God’s Spirit is with you, and in you, and will be so forever and ever, world without end. Amen. 

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

Daily Lesson for April 23, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 5 verses 18 through 25:

18Just then some men came, carrying a paralysed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus;* 19but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd* in front of Jesus. 20When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend,* your sins are forgiven you.’

The famous anthropologist Margaret Mead was once asked what marked for her the beginning of civilization. The harnessing of fire and the invention of the wheel may have come to mind. But Mead's final answer was a surprise, and an also an inspiration:

The first sign of civilization, Mead said, was the ancient femur that though once broken, had been healed.

“The healed femur tells me that someone found that wounded person, took the time to stay with them, and bind the wound," Mead said.

"A healed femur indicates that someone helped a fellow human, rather than abandoning them to save their own life."

The South African concept of Ubuntu speaks to this: "I am because you are." We are who we are because we are in connection, and in community. And our civilization depends upon it.

Civilization is dependent upon a community of people's kindness and connection to one another. It is dependent upon their care for one another.

Friends, this is why we should have universal healthcare and adequate disability entitlements. It's why we should have mail-in, and drive-up voting. And it's why we must always bring the bread and the cup forward into the congregation, for those who can't come forward during communion.

And seeing their care and their love and their faithfulness to one another, Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven . . ."

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

Daily Lesson for April 22, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 1 John chapter 5 verses 19 and 20:

19We know that we are God’s children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Last summer I read C.S. Lewis's classic "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" at bedtime to our boys. If you don't recall, the world of Narnia has had a spell cast over it and it is under the power of the evil White Witch. The spell is deep; and truth is one of its primary casualties.

It was a pretty good book to be reading in 2020.

The spell is deep. And as today's Lesson says, "the whole world lies under the power of the evil one."

The whole world lies.

But we know Him who is true. And we know that it is truth that will set us free.

Spoiler alert (after 75 years): at the end of the book the White Witch was defeated. But, there were sequels. There always are.

So let us put on the buckle of Truth, and gird ourselves. For the spell is still being cast, and the evil one is still out there.

And let us hold tight to these words from today:

"We . . . know him who is true; and we are in him who is true."

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

Daily Lesson for April 21, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 1 John chapter 5 verses 6 and 7:

6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. 7There are three that testify: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.

Yesterday's verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin was a day of vindication not only for the family of George Floyd, but also all the millions of others who watched the video of his death, and pleaded along with the bystanders on the street for Officer Chauvin's knee to be removed from Mr. Floyd's neck.

Mr. Floyd's breath cried out. The blood of Abel cried out. And the water spilled from Jesus' side on the cross cried out. These three testified together, all in agreement. This was a murder. The jury heard the testimony and convicted.

I pray this is an inflection point for us as a nation. I pray it is a turning point for America. Truth won the day yesterday. Mr. Floyd's breath mattered. His life mattered. Black lives matter. Truth won the day yesterday. May it also win the future.

The breath, and the blood, and the water testify. Let us listen. Let us hear. And let us render our verdict: justice for all.

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

Daily Lesson for April 20, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 1 John chapter 4 verses 16 through 18:

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

Last week I went to go visit an old gentleman who is in the last days of his life. It was the first pastoral visit of its kind that I have been able to make in over a year.

There was a deep peace in the room as we visited, and I heard from him the words I have heard time and time again over the years from people in his place near the threshold:

"I am not afraid."

Those who know God know that God is good, God is kind, and God is merciful. They know that God is love.

In love there is no fear. All those who have allowed themselves to be truly receive love, have also given love, and understand that love is unconditional and also eternal.

May we allow ourselves to live in love today. May we receive love, give love, dwell in love, live, and die in love.

And may we be not afraid.

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

Daily Lesson for April 19, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 4 verses 23 through 30:

23Jesus said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ 24And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. 25But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27There were also many lepers* in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ 28When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

I heard a bunch of stuff about "America First" Caucus and a its explicitly "Anglo-Saxon" pride. Apparently the Caucus is already over, but I doubt its really gone away. It certainly drew a lot attention and probably a lot of donors for its champions. The dogs will keep coming even after you put the dog whistle back in your pocket.

They had an Israel First Caucus back in Jesus' hometown Nazareth somewhere around 30AD. It liked to have killed Jesus right then and there; we can thank God He slipped away.

But the Caucus didn't fold up shop. They kept organizing -- in secret. Three years later they came out with their full force.

Let us remember that, so we won't be surprised when in three years we see the Caucus rise again ourselves.

In fact, after reading about what they tried to do to Jesus, nothing should surprise us ever again.

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

Daily Lesson for April 16, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Psalm 17 verses 1 and 2:

1 Hear my plea of innocence, O Lord;

give heed to my cry; *

listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *

let your eyes be fixed on justice.

This morning, as I awaken to yet another video of an officer of the law shooting an unarmed person of color -- this time a 13-year-old boy -- I have not so much a lesson but only a prayer, a plea.

I pray for the ending of this madness.

I pray for the victims of this terror.

I pray for everyone who is so afraid and on guard in a country awash with guns.

I pray for the changing of hearts.

Just as importantly and maybe more, I pray for the changing of policies which make it too easy to take life.

I pray for my family.

I pray for your family.

I pray for the family of Adam Toledo.

I pray to the God of justice and for the healing of this land.

On Wednesday I gathered with a group of clergymen and women to pray for our City and the newly-purchased glass high rise which will soon be the new Fort Worth City Hall. Gathered on the top floor from which we could see the whole City, we prayed one by one in the presence of our Mayor and her staff.

I sat beside and held hands with the Imam as we all prayed together for the peace of the City. I prayed specifically for Attatiana Jefferson, an innocent woman killed in her own home by a Fort Worth police officer in 2019, her family, and for all others who yearned for "justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream". I prayed that the new building would be a place of justice and righteousness, and I asked that if that ever not be the case then I prayed the very stones and glass of the building would cry out.

The stones of our buildings of justice are crying out. The ground is crying out. The blood in the ground cries out.

God hears these cries. May we hear them too.

May we hear them, and may this country be changed.

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