Daily Lesson for Christmas Eve 2021

 Beloved,

On that Christmas Eve so long ago, Mary and Joseph had come so far, and still had so far to go. Nazareth was a long way back, and Egypt a long ways ahead. There was much heavy labor and worry in between. 

But after the labor, there was for a while the tender moment of joy and gratitude.

It’s been a long journey, friends; and apparently we still have a long, long ways to go. Herod is still out there; and so is another variant of the Coronavirus. 

But let us not lose the goodness of this night. Let us worship, let us pray, let us give thanks and praise, and let us behold. 

For unto us a child is born!  Unto us a son is given!

Yes; we’ve still got a long ways to go. But the journey can only be made a day at a time, and not at all without joy and gratitude for having come this far by God’s grace. 

Merry Christmas, friends. 

And remember, it’s ours to keep . . .

PS — I’ll be taking a break from my Daily Lessons. I plan to pick back up in the New Year. 

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

Daily Lesson for December 23, 2021

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 1 selected verses:

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. 60But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ 61They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. . . 66All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ 

The author Anne Rice just passed.  

Best known for her book “Interview with a Vampire” and other vampire novels, she also wrote a series of what I think are brilliant historical faction novels about the life of Jesus. 

In one, Rice imagines Jesus visiting the home of Elizabeth when Jesus and his cousin John are each about 12 years old. There is controversy over Elizabeth’s parenting, as she is allowing young John to go out into the wilderness as a nazirite rather than following in his father’s footsteps as a priest in the temple. 

Elizabeth faces scorn from her community, but she is firm. This child of hers will go his own way if he wants. Jesus then says Elizabeth spoke with an authority he had never before witnessed in a woman. 

No doubt, Elizabeth did speak with authority. I’m sure the people asked whatever the “Who wears the pants in their family?” was back then. But Elizabeth did not care. As Rice has her say, “When you talk to me you don’t talk to a woman. You talk to Sarah of old. To Hannah of old.”

Elizabeth talked. And the people talked too. 

But they also listened. 

You better believe they listened good. 

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

Daily Lesson for December 22, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 1 verses 41 through 44:

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy.

What happened inside Elizabeth was spontaneous and exhilarating. She was filled with what Paul calls "the inexpressible and glorious Joy" of God. She could not have explained how the Joy came upon her. She was, like C.S. Lewis, "surprised by Joy".

But sometimes Joy is a little harder to find. It doesn't always come right when we want it. And though Christmas is the most wonderful and joyous time of the year, sometimes getting into the Christmas spirit of Joy is difficult.

On the third Sunday of the Advent I preached on Joy as a practice.

"Leap FOR Joy," Jesus told his disciples.

And we sing FOR Joy. There is even an idiom which says, "Weep for Joy."

Joy can surprise us. When it does, it's wonderful. But sometimes we have to work and practice at it. We have to make Joy our habit.

And the most Joyful people in the world indeed do.

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

Daily Lesson for December 21, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 1 Samuel chapter 2 verse 8b:

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,

and on them he has set the world.

It is the longest night of the year here in North America.

Our ancient ancestors might have wondered and worried that the earth was falling into a deep and complete darkness from which it would never return.

But the pillars of the earth are fixed, and the darkness will pass away.

It will pass away, beloved. It has it's longest night; but it can't hold on forever.

For those struggling, know that I pray for you. For those for whom Christmas is deep sadness, may you hold out in this 4th watch of the year knowing that you are not alone.

The pillars are set. Tomorrow will literally be a longer, if not brighter day.

It may be the bleak winter now, but the darkness passes away, and behold, the light comes.

And the darkness cannot overcome it.

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

Daily Lesson for December 20, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 1 verses 24 and 25:

24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25‘This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favourably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.’

Five months.

I'm not sure I ever noticed how long it was. But then again, I wasn't looking.

But if anyone who has ever lost a pregnancy or, like Elizabeth, only been pregnant in old age, they would have noticed.

Five months in seclusion -- waiting, wondering, hoping, but not wanting to hope too much.

The joy was contained. The fear of shame and loss so real. One little sickness or sudden move seemed to risk it all.

So she was shut in.

People stay home for all manner of reasons. The aged, and frail, and immuno-compromised, and anxious have their reasons -- especially now.

There should be no judgment about that. Just this good news:

Christmas came to Elizabeth's house also.

Thanks be to God.

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

Daily Lesson for December 17, 2021

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Revelation chapter 5 verses 11 through 13:

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice,

‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honour and glory and blessing!’ 

13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,

‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honour and glory and might

for ever and ever!’ 

Peter Storey, a former Duke professor and the right hand man for Desmond Tutu during the anti-apartheid struggle, visited East Berlin in the days just after the fall of the Berlin Wall.  He saw a little church near the Wall with a small and understated sign out front.  "The Lamb wins," it said.

We are coming down to the end of the year. The nights are at their longest in the Northern Hemisphere.  We do not know what the next year will hold. 

But as we read Revelation the apocalyptic words assure. The Lamb will win. 

And to Him be all blessing and honour and glory and might for ever and ever.

And to us the courage to keep walking in the night . . . 

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

Daily Lesson for December 16, 2021

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

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; 2and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. 4And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

As we come to the end of the year, and darkness settles deep over this part of the earth, it is a time when worry and fear about the future can set in. 

We worry about what is to come of this country and this earth. 

We fret over the lives and wellbeing of our children. 

If you are in church leadership, you wonder if there will be any manna left after all the turmoil of the past couple of years. 

If you watch the news, you worry over the climate, the economy, and the state of the electorate. 

It is overwhelming, and there is reason to see why John of Patmos wept bitterly for fear of what was inside the scroll in today’s Lesson. 

But hear this good news, friends. Though we do not know what all is to come of this earth; the promise is that the Lion is with us; and He has the power to open the scroll. 

In C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” it is said of the Lion amidst a world that is “always winter, and never Christmas” that the Lion “isn’t safe. But he’s good.”

Things may not be safe. But the Lion is good. And He has the power to open the scroll so Christmas can come again.

And we will not fear. 

Daily Lesson for December 14, 2021

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Revelation chapter 3 verses 15 through 18:

15 ‘I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.” You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich . . .

The Lesson this morning comes from words written to the church at Laodicea, a church which was rich in wealth but poor in spirit. 

It was wealthy, but it had not suffered. And, I imagine, it had not suffered because it had not risked. That is how it was wealthy. It’s wealth was a sign of its caution. 

The words come to the church of Laodicea that it is to buy a “gold refined by fire”.  

This is a summons to courage. A call to care and action. A charge to risk. 

William Sloane Coffin had a phrase in his famous benediction that Steve Shoemaker adapted and used week by week here at Broadway:

“To risk something big for something good.”

That was a word for the church at Laodicea. 

It’s a word for any church ready to see that the gold refined by fire is a good that is better than the green that can’t bear even tiniest of little flames. 

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

Daily Lesson for December 13, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Revelation chapter 3 verses 10 through 12:

10Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it.

We've said goodbye to some pillars in the church this year.

Strong, anchors of faith and stability for not only seasons or years, but decades upon decades. The pillars held everything together for generations.

Now, they've gone on to stand stable and strong in the house of the Lord eternal.

That means that down here new pillars arise. New strength is found. Strength and endurance is passed down to another generation.

So the church still stands, and the community is held together.

Go to a place like Ephesus or Greece or certain places around Israel and you'll see that ancient pillars still stand 2,000 or 3,000 years after they were built. They've remained for millennia.

Faith, hope, and love remain. They endure.

And so too does God's house -- on earth as it is in heaven.

Thanks be to God.

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

Daily Lesson for December 10, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Psalms 31, selected verses:

1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame; *

deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Incline your ear to me; *

make haste to deliver me.

7 I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy; *

for you have seen my affliction;

you know my distress.

8 You have not shut me up in the power of the enemy; *

you have set my feet in an open place.

9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *

my eye is consumed with sorrow,

and also my throat and my belly.

10 For my life is wasted with grief,

and my years with sighing; *

my strength fails me because of affliction,

and my bones are consumed.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *

and in your loving-kindness save me."

19 How great is your goodness, O Lord!

which you have laid up for those who fear you; *

which you have done in the sight of all

for those who put their trust in you.

21 Blessed be the Lord! *

for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a

besieged city.

In a besieged city, the mercies of God are still present.

In a walled city, the psalmists sees the sun, captures birds, drinks of the rain.

In a wheelchair inside an assisted living center, the carols of Christmas are sung.

Behind prison walls the good news is proclaimed.

In China songs, and hymns and spiritual songs are being sung.

In an apartment across town, a Sunday School class is sending a train of meals to a member who is chronically ill.

Somewhere last night someone struggling with deep depression and a sense of isolation wrote a gratitude list to remind them of the good things they do have.

In a besieged city, the wonders of the Lord are show.

Blessed be the Lord in the great miracles, and also the small.

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

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.