Daily Lesson for January 7, 2022

 Today’s Daiky Lesson comes from Colossians chapter 1 verses 9 through 14:

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 everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

We saw again yesterday all the images from a year ago. It was horrifying and sad to remember. Even more horrifying and sad to me is that so many are in denial about the fact, force, and meaning of the violence that took place. 

Yet even as I am appalled by what took place and also afraid of what it portends, I also still hold a place for the humanity of those who were there storming the Capitol. I recognize that there is something in me, that if things had not gone differently, could have led me to take their same dark path. This recognition forces me to resist all demonization. 

I give thanks this morning for my “share in the inheritance of the saints in light”.  I pray for us all who are in the light to grow in the knowledge of God’s goodness and mercy this year. I ask that we be made strong, that we might stand steadfast, endure, and bear the fruit of righteousness, even amidst evil days. 

I pray also for grace and for humanity for our enemies. They are many.  They are forceful. They are remorseless. And they are shrewd. 

But, as the Quakers say, “if in fight the beast you become a beast, then the beast has won.”

Let us be not beasts to one another this year. Let us be kind and be human instead. 

Let us also beware.

And, above all, let us set to living lives worthy of our Lord. 

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