How We Declare, Like Peter, “Never, Lord!”

March 27, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH How We Declare, Like Peter, "Never, Lord!" SCOTTY SMITH Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Matt. 16:22 Lord Jesus, if two words should never be placed side by side, it’s “Never, Lord!” Peter uttered this phase as you were heading to the cross. We say the same thing in different ways. When you tell us our need of salvation is so great our only hope is the Gospel of God’s grace, and the free gift of your righteousness—yet we persist in trying to deserve and earn our way into heaven, we’re saying, “Never, Lord! You haven’t done quite enough for someone like me. Your cross, plus my works, groveling, and penance might add up to get me in.” When you assure us, your grace is sufficient for our hardest stories and heartaches—yet we persist in fear, blaming, and unbelief, we’re saying, “Never, Lord! Your grace won’t be quite enough for me. I’m not that loved. God helps those who help themselves.” When you call us to live and love missionally—to hoard less and give more, yet we persist in loving money more than people who don’t know you, Jesus, our choices declare, “Never, Lord! Your story and glory aren’t as important as my personal peace and comfort.” When you command us to forgive others as you’ve forgiven us, yet we hold on to resentment and bitterness, in essence, we’re saying, “Never, Lord! You don’t understand how much they hurt me. They must pay.” Lord Jesus, “Yes!” A thousand and ten times “Yes!”, to whatever you declare, promise, and purpose for our lives. When we resist and dismiss your will, please “take us aside” and rebuke us with the Gospel—hourly if necessary. So very Amen we pray, in your most wonderful and awe-worthy 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

We Cannot Over Ask and Over Trust Jesus

March 26, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Cannot Over Ask and Over Trust Jesus SCOTTY SMITH    Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 Lord Jesus, we praise you for your steadfast love, daily mercies, and doing the impossible. We need all three. Some of us run to your throne of grace today, expectant and hopeful. Some of us are making our way very slowly, under the weight of weariness and emotional exhaustion. Thank you for meeting us where we are, as we are. Thank you for always running towards us in the Gospel. Jesus, we want to trust you with various items from the smorgasbord of life: Health challenges, financial pressure, and unexpected reversals Big and little decisions, spiritual malaise, and job upheaval Children “all over the map,” and relationships in dire need of grace Broken hearts, broken promises, broken friends… With palms up and knees bent, we surrender to you. Some of us ache with the pain of loss, betrayal, or fear. Hold us tightly, close to your heart. We want healing and freedom; yet some days we want control and justice much more. Help us Lord. We don’t want to get stuck in bitterness and resentment. Some of us feel the burden of our guilt, the pain of failure, or the shame of choices. Grace us, and keep us from falling into vain regrets, self-contempt, or medicating foolishly. Make what feels impossible a garden for the display of your kindness and faithfulness. Jesus, you do all things well and make all things beautiful, in your time. May your time be our time. Thank you, Lord. So very Amen we pray, in your loving 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

“See How He Loved”

March 25, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "See How He Loved" SCOTTY SMITH “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 Lord Jesus, it’s the shortest, but perhaps it’s the most profound verse in the Bible. Your hot, compassionate tears shed outside Lazarus’s tomb, are one of the greatest showers that have fallen on the face of the earth. You knew, within moments, Lazarus would breathe again; yet you wailed as his cold body laid motionless in the tomb. Those observing the moment said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36). No one hates death more than you—no one feels its horrid implications more profoundly. And no one loves each of us more than you do. No one will welcome the Day of “no more death and dying” more earnestly than you (Rev. 21:4). No one has done more to secure death’s utter obliteration. Jesus, as we approach Palm Sunday, then Easter, we regale you as “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Your death was the death of death itself—the last enemy (1 Cor. 15:26). Because of your resurrection, we sing in advance of ours, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55) Death is now working backwards, with a view to the Day when all things will be new, right, and beautiful forever. We praise and exalt you, Lord Jesus. We rest our often-heavy, sometimes-confused, at-times-demanding hearts in your strong and loving hands. So very Amen we pray, in your grave-robbing, life-giving 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

Let’s Offer More Refreshment and Less Shame

March 24, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Let's Offer More Refreshment and Less Shame SCOTTY SMITH May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found me. 2 Tim. 1:16–17 Dear Jesus, Onesiphorus is a member of our forever-family we’ll have to wait till heaven to meet. But we’d love to imitate, long before we meet him in the new earth. He entered Paul’s pain, and brought refreshment. He wasn’t ashamed of Paul’s weakness. He gave encouragement, not shame. Jesus, make us more refreshing in the way we relate to others. Fill our hearts with your kindness, and our hands with your mercy. Give us Gospel eyes to see others as you see them. Sensitize our spirits with your Spirit. May our “to-love lists” always take precedence over our “to-do lists.” For “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal. 5:6). If we’re too busy to care, then we’re too busy. If we’re more irritated than merciful, in view of people’s various “imprisonments,” then we are more in chains than they are. Jesus, you searched for us and found us. You broke our chains, bore our shame, and set us free. You are quintessential Refreshment. May we love others as you love us. So very Amen we pray, in your loving and liberating 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

Our Coronation of Eternal Giddiness

March 23, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Our Coronation of Eternal Giddiness SCOTTY SMITH Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am he who comforts you.” Isa. 51:11–12 Father, this passage blasts our hearts with great hope, and invites us to fresh joy. No matter what else is going on in our lives, because the Gospel is true, we have already been ransomed, rescued, and redeemed. Nothing will keep us from arriving safely Home. The saints in heaven are certainly more joyful than we are; but they’re not more yours, secure, and loved than we are. Being “crowned with everlasting joy”—what’s that going to be like—a coronation of giddiness? And what will it sound like when our voice blends in with the every-nation family of God, as we enter the New Jerusalem together? Talk about “blended worship”! We know what it feels like to be overtaken by guilt and shame, but we can hardly imagine being overtaken by “gladness and joy.” Our present standing in grace will lead to eternal dancing in grace—even for we non-dancers. We await the Day when all “sorrow and sighing will flee” (not saunter or casually stroll) away. Thank you for being the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort 24/7 to us. Forgive us for bypassing you, seeking our comfort elsewhere. So very Amen we 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

A Week of New-Heart Growth

March 22, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Week of New-Heart Growth SCOTTY SMITH    I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36:26 Gracious Father, thank you for fulfilling the promise of a new heart the very moment you raised us to new life in Jesus. But our new heart has yet to become a perfected heart. That will require either our trip to heaven, or Jesus’ return to earth—two dates are securely in your hands. We long for the Day when our hearts will only marvel at Jesus’ beauty, beat for his glory, and love with his kindness. By the power of your Holy Spirit—who now lives inside us, keep changing, healing, and freeing us. We crave a servant’s heart, a humble heart, a trusting heart. Each day of this new week, fill our hearts with sufficient grace as we encounter: Hard-to-love people Normal irritations and more waiting Didn’t-see-that-one-coming circumstances Failures in others, and weaknesses in ourselves May the riches of the Gospel be our bounty, ballast, balance. May hearing Jesus’ name be so endearing and encouraging to us, we’ll barely feel any self-pity and rejection when we don’t hear ours. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ matchless 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