Living to God’s Glory in a Post-Christian World

October 17, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Living to God's Glory in a Post-Christian World SCOTTY SMITH The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Rom. 16:20 Heavenly Father, what a great verse to ponder and cherish in this season. You are the God of peace, yet we are a people who worry. Though our world increasingly repudiates your name, you reign, rule, and rejoice. The nations conspire, you laugh (Psalm 2). Evil advances, your Kingdom advances more. Jesus’ crushing on the cross (Isa. 53:10) was the crushing blow to the kingdom of darkness. According to this passage, a Day is coming when everywhere we place our feet will be filled with your presence and glory. Jesus’ victory and Satan’s defeat will be our “eternal dance floor.” This doesn’t mean “we win.” It means the Lamb of God has triumphed—even over our sin, unbelief, and fears. How then are we to live, as we wait for the Day of all things new? Pensive and passive, worried and withdrawn, agitated and angry? No, 10,000 times no. You bid us share the Gospel, love to your glory, and live with hope. As Paul states, may the grace of Jesus be with us—every possible way. May it fill, transform, gentle, and free us. May we be the best neighbors, friends, co-workers, and servants—wherever you’ve placed us. So very Amen we pray, in the hope-laden, grace-full name of Jesus.   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

Compelled and Controlled by the Love of Jesus

October 16, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Compelled and Controlled by the Love of Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. ” 2 Cor. 5:14 Heavenly Father, how fully can this happen in this life? Not merely humbled or grateful, but compelled and controlled by the love of Jesus. It’s hard to imagine a freer, more satisfying; not pain-free, but peace-full way to live. By your Holy Spirit, continue to convince us Jesus loves us as much as the Scriptures say both of you love us. We are riddled with unbelief. We have chronic Gospel-forgetfulness. We foolishly think we deserve or need more than Jesus’ love. We tend to “Yes, but” the riches of grace. “Yes, I know I’m forgiven, clothed in Jesus’ righteous, have God as my Father, and heavenly citizenship but…” “But, I can’t forgive myself.” “But, why can’t life be easier?” “But, does God like me?” “But, I want a happy marriage… respectful children… no cancer… more money… my candidate to win… people to appreciate me.” Father, may our “Yes!” to the love of Jesus grow louder and more real. And may our “but’s” be fewer and fewer. Make Jesus’s love so compelling to us, we’ll gladly live for him—in our known disappointments, many blessings, unknown future, and things we can’t control. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ lovely 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

Jesus Out-Compelling the Opposition

October 15, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Out-Compelling the Opposition SCOTTY SMITH I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me. Song of Songs 7:10 Most beautiful Lord Jesus, we belong to you, period. Make this more real than the stress we’re under, and the fears inside us. You love us more than we ever hoped, and desire us more than we can possibly imagine. By the power of your resurrection, make our belongingness and belovedness compelling—more compelling than anything else. We have been more distracted and distressed over the state of our world, than in awe and peace over the greatness of your heart. We want that to change, Jesus, and we look to you for this work of grace in our hearts. Though we doubt many things, we don’t have to doubt what you think of us, and what you’re doing in the world. You cannot love us more, and you’ll never love us less. Every square inch of the cosmos, and every nanosecond of time, belongs to you. You are the ruler of the kings of the earth, and the redeemer of the schemes of men. Demons tremble at your name, and bruised reeds love your appearing. When we are afraid, you meet us right there. When we feel joy, you intend even greater joy. Today, and in these coming weeks, reel in, renew, refresh our hearts, Jesus. 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

Goodbye to a Friend and Gratitude for the Gospel

October 14, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Goodbye to a Friend and Gratitude for the Gospel SCOTTY SMITH He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death. Rev. 21:4 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev. 21:5 Most sovereign and compassionate Lord Jesus. Certain days intensify our ache for the Day of no more death, and all things new. Today is one of them for many of us. Yesterday, Jay Swartzendruber—loving husband, friend to droves, son of God, servant of the Gospel, went Home. Only fifty-three—his smile radiated your welcome, his servanthood revealed your grace, his passion fueled our longing for your kingdom. His was a life well lived. Thank you for validating our shock, encouraging our grief, and giving us tears. Standing before your friend’s grave, you wept before you, raised Lazarus to life. You revealed your anguish before you exercised your power. It’s good and right that we should feel sad. Jesus, may your tear-wiping hand bring tender comfort and palpable hope to many—especially to Jamie, Jay’s bride. In these coming weeks, may we ponder the brevity of life, the riches of your grace, and the gift of friendship. Life is simply too short to be misspent, the Gospel too glorious to be ignored, and relationships too precious to take for granted. So very Amen we pray, in your wonderful and merciful 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

Bigger Hearts, not Bigger Barns

October 13, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Bigger Hearts, not Bigger Barns SCOTTY SMITH Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4 (NIV) Perfect Father—for that is who you are, thank you for speaking to us in this passage. By our sufferings, you intend to gentle us, not harden us; increase our compassion, not intensify our confusion; free us to enter the pain of our friends, not drive us into a closet of self-pity. You are our “Father of mercies,” not misery. Of course you’ll give us more than we can handle. It’s one of the ways you rescue us from us; and draw us into deeper fellowship with Jesus, make us more human and humane, and make the hope of heaven more precious to us. You’re not punishing us, you’re making us like Jesus. In our most Gospel-sane moments, that’s what we really want. You’ll always be “the God of all comfort” to us. Whatever our affliction(s), you promise us sufficient grace, no Christ-absent days, and a peace not tied to circumstances or easy answers. Thank you, Father, for we don’t want to squander the rest of our days on “building bigger barns,” when we can have a bigger heart for you and others. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ gentle and glorious 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

A Bouquet of Beauty

October 12, 2020 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Bouquet of Beauty SCOTTY SMITH For he himself (Jesus) is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.  Eph. 2:14-15 (NIV) Lord Jesus, thank you for making peace between God and us. Through your finished work, we have become objects of his affection, and ambassadors of reconciliation. Thank you for tearing down the dividing wall between Gentiles and Jews, and other people groups as well. Only you can replace hostility with hospitality, meanness with kindness, and peace-breaking with peace-making. You fulfilled the demands of the law for us. Now fulfill the beauty of the Gospel in us. In you, Jesus, differences no longer have to be barriers that exclude. Diversity becomes a bouquet of beauty when the Gospel is in play. As your every-nation Bride, we’ll finally believe that, at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. May that Day, impact this one. As we enter this October Monday, we are desperate for your enmity-destroying, heart-gentling peace among us. Walls (with barbed-wire and shards of glass on top) separate friends, divide families, and polarize our country. May we be salt and light in an hour of rage and darkness. It’s not about “us versus them,” but our common need of you. Help us, Jesus. So very Amen we pray, in your merciful and mighty 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