A Lamb Is at the Center of the Throne, Not a Donkey or Elephant

October 10, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Lamb Is at the Center of the Throne, Not a Donkey or Elephant SCOTTY SMITH “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'” Rev. 7:17       Lord Jesus, sometimes all it takes is a pithy Tweet to reel in my racing, ambivalent, conflicted thoughts. A dear friend, David Cassidy, lasered a bit of Gospel-sanity to my heart last night at just the right time. Accordingly, I slept so well.       Indeed, you, Lord Jesus—the Lamb of God, are perched squarely, joyfully, sovereignly at the center of the Throne of thrones. Not a Donkey or Elephant—the symbols of mere humans doing mere American politics. But you—the Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world, you are reigning over all things for your glory, and working in all things for our good. Hallelujah, a gazillion times over.       This declaration by the aging Apostle John invites us to fill our hearts with a vision of what is and will be forever. What a worship-fueling, hope-enlarging, holy paradox. A Lamb is presently our King and will be our Shepherd forever.       You have only and always served us, Lord Jesus—in creation and redemption. And even in eternity, you will lead us to springs of living water. Because of your finished work, current reign, and certain return… all our tears, and all the pain behind every tear your Bride has ever wept, will be wiped, and redeemed. Our hope is in a Lamb, not a Donkey or Elephant. So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant 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

What’s Really Discipling Us?

October 9, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH What's Really Discipling Us? SCOTTY SMITH We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5  Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold, rather, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom. 12:2       Lord Jesus, nothing is more daily and formative than our thought lives. No matter what our words say, we are what we “think in our hearts” (Prov. 23:7). Whoever/whatever has our heart’s attention and allegiance, this is what is really “discipling” us.       So, before anything or anyone else claims this moment, we set our minds and affection on you (Col. 3:1-2). This isn’t “mind over matter,” it’s you, Jesus, over all things.        May your beauty, truth, and reign be the most unavoidable, irresistible realities in our lives this October weekend. We are your disciples, and you alone have the right to disciple us. We are your Bride, and you love and care for us like no one else.        You are the King kings and Lord of lords—our perfect righteousness and perpetual Advocate. Why would we give 30 seconds of attention to the lies of the devil, the puffery of princes, the “snake oil” of political carpetbaggers, the voice of our fears… and the list goes on?         Jesus, by the truth of the Word, the riches of the Gospel, and the power of the Holy Spirit… disciple us, change us, free us. So very Amen we pray, in your 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

Stewardship of Words and Communication

October 8, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Stewardship of Words and Communication SCOTTY SMITH The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45  There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Prov. 12:18   Let your conversation be always full of grace… Col. 4:6        Heavenly Father, not just in response to televised “debates,” but as a participant in social media and everyday life, these passages convict me. Forgive me for the ways I misuse the gift of communication. I want my words to promote healing, not harm in anyone.        Forgive me for under-listening and over-speaking. Forgive me when my words convey truth, but my body language speaks shame, disrespect, non-engagement, or self-importance. Forgive me for talking more than I pray. Forgive me for indulging unkind, un-holy words internally.              Since whatever fills our hearts shapes our words, fill my heart so full of your mercy, grace, and kindness it’ll be difficult for me to shame, hurt, disrespect, or gossip about anyone today.        All day long, by the Holy Spirt, you will be telling us, as your children, how much you love and delight in us. From the overflow of such amazing grace, may my mouth reveal your truth, beauty, and goodness.        If my words today (and body language) are just 3% as kind as the Gospel is awesome, you will be honored, and others will be helped. May is be so. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ great and gracious 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

For Those of Us Who Still Need a Doctor

October 7, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH For Those of Us Who Still Need a Doctor SCOTTY SMITH Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17  Gracious Jesus, we are thrilled you’ve given us the permanent “health” of justification. We will never be more forgiven, righteous, and justified than we are in union with you. The Gospel is our declaration of a clean bill of righteousness-health. Hallelujah, and proceed to heal every aspect of our being, pillaged by the effects of sin.  Heal our thinking from the ever-present disease of unbelief—a congenital condition impacting everything we see, do, and choose. Grant us a greater measure of Gospel-sanity. We want to think from the perspective of eternity, and reason in line with the truth of the Gospel.   Heal our emotions from the malignancy of self-interest. We want godly anger, not destructive pouting. We want Gospel–joy, not mere circumstantial–happiness. We godly grief, not more worldly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10).  Heal our choosing from systemic selfishness, the illusion of autonomy, and our addiction to self-aggrandizement. Jesus may your will be our bread, your grace our libation, and your glory our banquet.   Jesus, we are so thankful for the coming Day of our completed healing, including a resurrection body that will never (hallelujah!) wear out. Until then, continue to make us healthier by your truth, grace, and Spirit. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and healing 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

Me and Nebuchadnezzar

October 6, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Me and Nebuchadnezzar  SCOTTY SMITH “I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal... He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’ Daniel 4:34-35 (NLT)       Heavenly Father, this passage offers us incomparable peace and hope. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we’re in constant need of getting low and acknowledging your sovereign rule over all things. Since grace runs downhill, that’s always the best posture to take.       Thank you for doing as you please, and not as we beg, nag, and demand. You do all things well, not to make our lives easy, but to fill the earth with your glory. When we under-believe the Gospel, and over-fixate on the news, you remain steadfast in your love and faithful.        So as this day begins, and continues, we are grateful Jesus has the hearts of every king, candidate,crucible, and crisis in his hand. Nothing happens beyond the reach and reasons of the occupied throne of heaven.        Forgive us when we doubt your faithfulness and help us when we struggle with your hiddenness. Replace our vexation with adoration… for you are worthy of 100% of our heart-worship and trust. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and beautiful 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