Constant Craving, Eternal Provision

February 13, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Constant Craving, Eternal Provision SCOTTY SMITH “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.” Song of Sol. 7:10;  And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Luke 20:34-35  Lord Jesus, tomorrow is Valentine’s Day—a day for honoring the beauty, wonder, and seasons of romantic love. As young and aging lovers, we praise you for this gift. Our joys and pains in romance, however, are connected to something much deeper. We carry a craving you alone can fulfill. On the Calendar of Grace, Valentine’s Day is the perfect day for resting in the only love that is better than life—your matchless love for us in the Gospel. Our sweetest relationships, healthiest marriages, and most endearing friendships are a mere hint and whisper of what it means to belong to you. Lord Jesus, you are the ultimate Spouse, the one we always wanted—the one with whom we’ll enjoy perfect intimacy and joy forever. By your life, death, and resurrection, you have made us your Bride—grace-worthy to enjoy the eternal Day of your passion and delight. Until your return, Lord Jesus, take us deeper into heart-engaging, joy-fueling, life-transforming relationship with you. May your love shape and fuel all other loves—in our marriages and singleness, when life is easy, and when it’s hard. So very Amen we pray, in your most kind 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

The Gospel Crushes All “Us-Versus-Them-Ness”

February 12, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Gospel Crushes All "Us-Versus-Them-Ness" SCOTTY SMITH “I will show love to those I called ‘Not loved.’” Hosea 2:23; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. Isa. 65:1; “Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness…. shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” Jonah 4:11. Heavenly Father, these passages in Hosea, Isaiah, and Jonah tell our story. We are the ones who had no claim on your love, or place in your family. Until you generously gave us both. Your mercy and grace are the only explanation. We are prone to wander, but you are a committed finder. We are quick to sin, but you are mighty to save. We want to call down fire on our “enemies,” but you pour out grace on your ever-growing, every-nation family. Forgive us when we think of our sins as monochromatic in a world of Technicolor sinners. Forgive us when we view our need for grace as vanilla, compared to the jalapeno-spicy-ness of other people’s failings. Worse, forgive us, when like Jonah, there are people groups (Ninevites) we’d rather you destroy than redeem. Give us bigger Gospel-hearts, global-mission passion, and next-door-neighbor love. In Christ, it’s never “us-versus-them”; but always, You for all of us. Our hope is built on nothing less, nothing more, and nothing other than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. May we live and love to your glory. So very Amen we pray, with worship, love and awe, in Jesus’ 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 a Bit Sluggish, “Blah-ish,” and “Meh-ish”

February 11, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When Feeling a Bit Sluggish, "Blah-ish," and "Meh-ish" SCOTTY SMITH Our loving Father… “does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. “…They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isa. 40:29-31 Heavenly Father, there’s nothing major going “south” right now, but I am feeling a bit sluggish, “blah-ish,” and “meh-ish.” Perhaps it’s just a combo of not sleeping great, the weight of a few heart-burdens, being a couple of days this side of #2 Moderna shot… I don’t really need to know. But I am grateful for the freedom you give us to accept our limitations and humanity—a freedom we need to access more regularly. Most importantly, I’m thankful for what this passage reminds us about you, Father. You’re tireless in your care, everlasting in your mercies, and generous with your grace. You anticipate our weakness and meet us right there. When we get worn-out, you don’t roll your eyes and call us “couch potatoes,” “slackers” or “soft.” Rather, you call us beloved children—daughters of your delight, sons in whom you rejoice. Thank you for promising to renew our strength. Thank you for calling us to wait for you, not get up and impress you. Sometimes, the most godly thing we can do is take a nap. Thank you for your kindness, Father. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ kind and powerful 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

Giving Our Cares to Our Caring Father

February 10, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Giving Our Cares to Our Caring Father SCOTTY SMITH Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Pet. 5:7 Loving Father, I wish “casting our cares on you” was as simple as throwing a handful of rocks into a pond. When it comes to our cares, they’re a bit more like boomerangs, yo-yo’s, or homing pigeons. They keep coming back. Or maybe it’s just us. We’re more like care-hoarders. It’s just hard to let go of our “stuff.” Either way, the best news in this verse is the reminder that you do care for us. We know that to be expressly true because of your gift of Jesus. The Gospel is the final and full proof that you’ll always give us what we need (Rom. 8:32), and take what we offload on you. Thank you. (Friends, as I list things I want to offload onto Abba, add your stuff to my list.) Father, I give you… The disconnect I feel from friends with whom I’ve shared a common love for Jesus for years, but now feel an icy separation because of pandemic and political differences. Please thaw it. I give you my constant concern about the physical, spiritual, and emotional health of people I dearly love. Occasionally, I still want to be the 4th member of the Trinity for a little while, Father. But you love who I love 1000 times more than I do. You can be trusted. Lastly, today, I give you my insecurities, lingering shame, and nagging fears. You can’t love me more than you do in Jesus, but I long to be so much freer by Jesus—as free as I will be one Day. So very Amen I pray, in his strong 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

Slow Down, Stay Gentle, Be Wise

February 9, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Slow Down, Stay Gentle, Be Wise SCOTTY SMITH Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. (Eccl. 7:9). Rejoice, though now for a little while… you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold. (1 Pet. 1:6). Heavenly Father, on this February Tuesday, I need these attitude-check passages. For I’ve been indulging a low-grade irritation for a few days. I’m embarrassed to even speak of my irritants as “trials,” because I didn’t go to bed hungry or thirsty last night. I didn’t hear gunfire echoing through my neighborhood. I can still buy Bibles of every size, cover, and translation. My “trials” are mainly the common stressors, predictable pressures, and normal messes of life in a fallen world—experienced as a selfish man. Long lines, slow traffic, delivery delays, schedule changes… these aren’t Godzilla walking into my village. Thank you for the kind highway patrolman that only gave me a warning ticket Sunday afternoon. I receive it as a common grace and Fatherly-warning from you. “Slow down, stay gentle, be wise, Scotty.” I need to practice more “grace-chill.” In the hard things and heartaches of life—but also in the ordinary disappointments, inconveniences, irritants of life, I want to honor you, Father. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ 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

Big and Much Grace Needed

February 8, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Big and Much Grace Needed SCOTTY SMITH Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 2:1 It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace. Heb. 13:8 Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 3:18 Heavenly Father, the more we read your Word the more we discover your grace to be the most heart-liberating, life-changing power in the cosmos. By your grace, you rescued us from the vanity of self-righteousness, and the futility of works-righteousness. Whew! By your grace, you’ve declared us eternally righteous in Jesus, and by your grace, one Day, you’ll make us completely like Jesus. Hallelujah and thank you. All this week long, encourage, strengthen, and free us by your grace. And here’s some specific “asks,” Father. By the riches of your grace… May we find more joy in being kind this week than in being right. Free us to be generous with overlooking, forgiving, and believing the best. Make Jesus’ beauty, love, and reign more real to us than ever before. Grant us quick repentances when we get irritated, flustered, and “snarky.” Make the presence, growth, and coming of your Kingdom our greatest joy, peace, and hope. May we out gentle, out honor, out remember-the-Gospel, out listen, and out encourage those around us. It’s a good thing your grace is free and unlimited! So very Amen we pray, in Jesus triumphant 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