Jesus Is Our Joyful, Faithful King

August 1, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Is Our Joyful, Faithful King SCOTTY SMITH But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Heb. 1:8–9 Lord Jesus, we can never know too much about you, or know you too well. On this 1st Day of August, this passage invites us to ponder the joy with which you are ruling heaven and earth. What a peace-giver this is. The government of the cosmos already rests on your shoulders. You are the ruler of the kings of the earth (including our upcoming election) (Rev. 1:5). You’re also sovereign over the things that threaten us, enrage us, and confuse us. By your Spirit, plant that deep in our hearts. You never experience consternation, just constant jubilation—no dread, just ceaseless delight; no vexation of spirit, just better-than-Swiss-timed execution of your perfect will. We’re impatient. You’re not. The joy that marks your heart and reign is the same joy you’re asking the Father to fill us with (John 17:13). May an increase in our joy topple our fears, gentle our hearts, and fuel our worship—especially for the rest of 2020. What a doozy of a year it’s been, Jesus. May your joy be the fire we need for doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). May it empower us to love difficult people, in out-of-our-control stories, with a peace that passes understanding. So very Amen we pray, in your exalted and comforting name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

More Freedom by Jesus

July 31, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH More Freedom by Jesus SCOTTY SMITH Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! Ps. 142:7 Lord Jesus, when King David prayed for freedom from his prison, he wasn’t behind iron bars; he was hiding in a cave. It’s obvious he felt pursued, trapped, and alone. But he was free enough to own his condition and abandon himself to your provision. We do the same on this July Friday. You’ve already freed from many slavish imprisonments. Because you are our righteousness, we no longer have to fear death, judgment, and where we’ll spend eternity. Thank you! Certainly we can trust you to set us free from other entanglements and imprisonments. Jesus, free us from obsessing about things we can’t control, and people we can’t fix. You are Lord, and we are not. Worry is a “petri-dish” which grows all kinds of fears, anxieties, anger, and peace-thievery. Free from vain regrets—those haunting memories of what could have been, and what should have been. Help us stop “should-ing” on ourselves. We want to learn from the past, not be enslaved to it. Set us free from the power of old wounds, and fear of new ones. Some things will only be fully healed by your second coming. You haven’t promised us a pain-free day in this world, but you have promised we’ll never have a Christ-absent minute. Hallelujah! Those you set free are the truly free ones, Jesus. Thank you! Keep on freeing us. Especially, free us to love others as you love us. So very Amen we pray, in your powerful and loving name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Trusting the Lord of Peace

July 30, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Trusting the Lord of Peace SCOTTY SMITH Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thess. 3:16 Heavenly Father, we adore and trust you for many reasons. Today, in particular, we rejoice in your gift of peace. In Paul’s words, you promise peace “at all times and in every situation.” Thank you, and we will receive! To know you are with us and for us—that you love us and are in control of all things, that’s what we need more than anything else. By your Spirit, make this more real than the tensions of this election year. Here are some of the “every situations” for which we crave peace, Father. Grant us peace, as we make important COVID-shaped decisions. Some of us are facing career changes, education options (online and otherwise), and stay-healthy related choices. Grant us wisdom from above. Grant us peace, as we trust you with the hearts and futures of our every-age children. It’s hard when their choices unnerve us; or when they hurt in ways we can’t fix; or when they distance themselves from us. Grant us all-season-grace to love, accept, engage, and encourage our daughters and sons—who are, truly, more yours than ours. Free us from the notion there’s only one right choice to make in these, and so many other matters. Actually, there’s only one right God to trust, and that is you, Father. Lead us, as we lean on you. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ strong and tender name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Contentment School

July 29, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Contentment School SCOTTY SMITH I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Phil. 4:11 Heavenly Father, the school of contentment constantly beckons us. It’s always in session—in the classroom, “online,” and everywhere we plant our feet. Graduation will only happen the day we “graduate” into heaven. Left unchecked, ingratitude, discontent, and envy infect hearts, poison relationships; and pollute co-workers and leaders, alike. We come to you on this July Wednesday, acknowledging a need you alone can meet, Father. Supersize the grace of contentment in our lives. Whether we have a little or a lot, are well known or forgotten, feast on the finest fare or yesterday’s tofu, we want to get and stay grateful. Whether we feel included or left out, celebrated or underappreciated; have discretionary funds for splurging, or financial pressures out the wazoo, we want to live in the peace of your providence and provision. Whether this virus keeps “winning,” or our candidate loses in November, we crave the freedom of having you as our treasure, “enough-ness,” and joy. Whether our relationships are “rocking” or rocky, have great health or chronic discomfort, we want to be content—not passive, not immune to pain, but alive in Jesus. By your Spirit, convict us when we default to murmuring and complaining. Heal us of Gospel-amnesia—too easily forgetting every good thing we have in Christ. We want to carp less and “carpe diem” more—seizing the day for your glory by, your grace. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ all-glorious and grace-full name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Toasting Jesus, During a Pandemic

July 28, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Toasting Jesus, During a Pandemic SCOTTY SMITH To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Rev. 1:5–6 Lord Jesus, John’s words have the feel of a toast to them. “To him who loves us . . .” Yet he wasn’t luxuriating at a family wedding in Hawaii. He was in exile on the Isle of Patmos, during a pandemic of evil. His heart was bursting with awe and gratitude. By the eye of faith, he savored the Day when you will return for us—glorious Bridegroom for beloved Bride. Give us the same faith, joy, and hope—in our own pandemic, that’s feeling a bit “exilic.” Help us grasp the implications of this one gigantic little phrase, “To him who loves us.” Every page of the Bible shadows, suggests, or shouts this astonishing declaration. You love us as no one else ever has, will, or can. How fitting this “kiss of grace” would be found in the opening words to the concluding book of the entire Bible. What a glorious summation of your work on our behalf. What a magnificent affirmation of the central theme in the history of redemption: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Enlarge the chambers of our hearts to experience how wide, long, high, and deep your love for us is, Jesus (Eph. 3:18-19). Rescue us when other loves seem more appealing, necessary, or satisfying. Your Bride awaits your return. So very Amen we pray, in your beautiful and loving name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

When Feeling Scattered

July 27, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When Feeling Scattered SCOTTY SMITH He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Eph. 1:9–10 Lord Jesus, as this last Monday in July begins to unfold, I see your beauty in the Gospel, and I don’t doubt your love for me, one bit. I’m just feeling scattered, pulled, and a bit “discombobulated.” That makes this passage timely, precious, and encouraging. I so long for the Day when “all things in heaven and on earth” will be brought together in you—that is, “summed up,” integrated, united, and whole. No more rushing around, just unhurried everything; no more dangling participles, frayed ends, or fractured anything. In light of that Day, please meet me (and my friends) in this day. Center and settle us, Jesus. Take our thoughts captive by your truth, and captivate our hearts with your beauty. Mute the clatter surrounding us, and remove the clutter inside us. We love being loved by you, Lord Jesus. And we love you only because you first loved us and gave yourself as a sacrifice of atonement and propitiation for our sins. We are presently, and eternally, grateful. So very Amen we pray, in your merciful and magnificent name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe