Esteeming, Loving, Adoring Jesus

April 24, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Esteeming, Loving, Adoring Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “We esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:1-3 “Do you love me?” John 21:16 Lord Jesus, Isaiah’s 4-word summary, and your 4-word question, rips and grips our hearts. You, who never sinned, became sin for us, that in you, we might freely receive and become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). All you want from us is our hearts and love. Because of the Gospel, we don’t stand condemned, but we do get low in conviction. By your “crushing” we are forever cherished. By your exile on the cross, we have citizenship in heaven. By your death as God’s Lamb, we have become God’s beloved children. No indictment can be more convicting than a lack of esteem for you, Lord Jesus. Every time we sin, we esteem ourselves more than you. Nothing makes sin seem more “sinful,” ugly, and empty. You created and redeemed us for yourself—loving Bridegroom for unlikely bride, yet we still look over your shoulder for other loves and other lovers. You’re returning to usher in the fullness and wonder of your glorious Kingdom; yet we remain preoccupied with fiefdoms of “me-myself-and-I,” waving our parade flags of self-preoccupation. By your grace and power, refresh, renew and intensity our love for you, Lord Jesus. We want to esteem you above everything and everyone. You cannot love us more; we want to love you so much more. So very Amen we pray, in your compassionate and all-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

Revolutionary Kindness

April 23, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Revolutionary Kindness SCOTTY SMITH “When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…”  (Titus 3:4); “The kindness of God leads you to repentance…” (Rom. 2:4) Heavenly Father, the Gospel is difference between how much you love us and how well we love. Hallelujah, you don’t love us to the degree we love others, but to the degree you’ve hidden our lives in Christ, which is 100%. With kindness you led (and lead) us to repentance; and in kindness, you “appeared” in Jesus, and saved us. In our culture of might, spite, and fight, your kindness has never seemed more revolutionary, and needed. By the riches of grace and power of the Holy Spirit, make us kinder, Father. When did we start taking offense quicker than we give mercy? How did our heart-skin get so thin, and our anger-triggers so “hair-trigger-ish”? Why do we fertilize our roots of bitterness and resentment (Heb. 12:15), rather than drench them with “Gospel-Roundup” and pull them up with bulldozers? When did relishing “getting even” become more compelling than “getting low” to wash one another’s feet? Father, forgive us. Dull our sharp edges, thaw our “chilly” attitudes, humble our haughty hearts. Free us to extend the same loving-kindness you lavish on us in Jesus. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender 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

We’re Simultaneously Worshippers and Whiners

April 22, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We're Simultaneously Worshippers and Whiners SCOTTY SMITH “Take delight in the Lord…” Ps. 37:4 Heavenly Father, until the Day you either bring us Home, we’re gonna be both worshipers and whiners. Some days, nothing feels like it’s “enough.” We get more likely to criticize others, than delight ourselves in you—more “grumble-ly,” than “Gospel-ly.” Other days, your love, grace, and presence are more real and satisfying than anything. Multiply those days, Abba. More of the days when your love is better than life, your grace is more than sufficient, and your presence is sweeter than honey. Days when the riches of the Gospel define us more than people not coming through for us, or circumstances not working out for us. Until the Day of nor more whining, discontent, and grumbling, teach us the difference between redemptive-discontent and chronic-ingratitude. Thank you for placing a limit on how much satisfaction anything or anyone can give us. This guarantees our idols will always fail us. On this April Thursday, supersize our awareness of every good thing we have in Jesus. Free us to turn down our expectation-rheostat on mere people, the seductive, empty mirages in our world, and things over which you alone are sovereign. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ 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

Stunning: Jesus Will Serve Us Forever

April 21, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Stunning: Jesus Will Serve Us Forever SCOTTY SMITH “The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.” Rev. 7:17 Lord Jesus, this image is stunning and staggering. It’s one thing to think of you as our Good Shepherd in life. But John describes you as shepherding us throughout eternity. Indeed, this is a picture of heaven—the life we will forever enjoy in the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1-5). You—the Creator, Sustainer, and King of all things, have only and always taken the position of a Servant. You don’t just wash our feet; you wash our hearts. You haven’t just secured heaven for us; you will serve us there as well. Even this very April Wednesday, you are interceding for us constantly, working in all things for our good, Forever we will know you as the Lamb who is our Shepherd. What a holy and glorious paradox. The Lamb who took away our sins, is the Shepherd who will lead us to springs of living water, forever and ever. It’s as though you always ask us, “What can I do for you?” The truth is, you don’t have to ask, for you know what we need before we ask, Lord Jesus. As an extension of your love, and revelation of the Gospel, may WE be the ones who ask one another, “What can I do for you?” Give us more joy in serving than being served, Jesus. We want to be more like you. So very Amen we pray, in your kind 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

The Light of Jesus’ Face and the “Greening” of His Favor

April 20, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Light of Jesus' Face and the "Greening" of His Favor SCOTTY SMITH “In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.” Proverbs 16:15 Lord Jesus, like all Scripture, this verse finds its bud, blossom, and bouquet in you. You are the King we always wanted. The sovereign ruler—never sleeping, always working for our good The omnipotent one—high and exalted, yet gentle and lowly The monarch of mercy and emperor of empathy—to whom children run, from whom demons flee To gaze upon your face in the Gospel is to receive light and life, not a scowl and judgment. For you have born our shame and given us your favor. We don’t have to live in fear, in hurry, or in anger. For we are in you—our lives are fully and securely hidden in you, Lord Jesus (Col. 3:1-4). Your favor permanently rests upon us—never increasing, never diminishing. This seems too good to be true, Lord Jesus. But it is so; it is gloriously true. Make this more real and precious to us than anything, or anyone else. Your favor, like the spring rain, has brought about the “greening” of our hearts. Continue to nourish, prune, and flourish us, Lord Jesus. We long for the Day when we will be as loving and lovely as you (1 John 3:1-3). In your great and grace-full name we pray, Amen. 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

Mirror, Mirror, in the Gospel

April 19, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Mirror, Mirror, in the Gospel SCOTTY SMITH “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. “Col. 3:12 Heavenly Father, before we head out for the day, nothing is more “automatic” than to check ourselves out in a mirror, make sure we’re dressed appropriately, and get going. If we’re in a big hurry, mirror-time may be a mere glance, but getting dressed is not optional. Oh, that this single verse would become just as daily of a rhythm for us. When we look at the mirror of the Gospel, we’ll never see “bad-hair-day,” “dark-eye-circle-day,” or, “I’m-rockin’-it-day.” We’ll see, “chosen by your Father, holy, and dearly loved.” Hallelujah, these three things define us more than anything we’ll ever see in a well-lighted piece of mirrored glass. We’re “chosen,” not choice—which means you wanted us, and made us yours through the work of Jesus. We’re “holy”—set apart by grace, for a life of grace and becoming like Jesus. We’re “dearly loved,”—more so than we’ve yet to realize, experience, or consistently believe. Accordingly—no matter the temperature, moisture factor, humidity, or activity of the day, our daily clothing choices should always include “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” As we start this new week, may these “grace-garments” be our most obvious attire, to those among whom we work, live, and play. Always in style, always needed, always freely ours in Jesus—thank you Father, we pray, 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