Jesus’ Impossible-Doing Greatness

May 15, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus' Impossible-Doing Greatness SCOTTY SMITH Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27  Lord Jesus, you greet and grace us every day your steadfast love, daily mercies, and impossible-doing greatness. Thank you, because we need all three. Some of us come running to your throne of grace today, primed for a miracle. Some of us are making our way quite slowly, life + shame weighing us down. Some of us are stuck on the mercy-road, not sure we can risk hoping again. Some of us are being carried by friends on the pallet of our paralysis (Mark 2). Thank you for meeting us where we are, as we are. Thank you for always running towards us in the Gospel, Jesus. Thank you for always working in all things for our good, even when “good things” don’t seem readily apparent. We bring you our empty pockets, aching bones, hurting hearts, dashed hopes, and our not-sure-where-to-turn selves. In the larger scheme of things, we know our hardest challenges are “light and momentary” (2 Cor. 4:17). Heaven is our home, and perfection is our forever. It’s the “smaller scheme of things” that concerns us. For daily bread, wisdom from above, and open doors, we turn to you, Jesus. You do all things well and make all things beautiful, in your time. May your time be our time, this and every time. So very Amen we pray, Lord Jesus, 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

On a Throne, not in a Hammock

May 14, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH On a Throne, not in a Hammock SCOTTY SMITH Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Luke 7:55-56 Lord Jesus, though it certainly doesn’t get the “press” and fanfare of your birth and resurrection, your ascension is a most grace-filled, peace-giving, hope-fueling reality. Forty days after your resurrection, you ascended to the right hand of our Father, Almighty. You didn’t sit down from exhaustion, but in response to your exaltation and coronation. Hallelujah… you are reigning on a throne, not relaxing in a hammock. You are actively… Making all things new (Rev. 1:5) Interceding for us constantly (Heb. 7:25) Working in all things for our good (Rom. 8:28) Ruling over every king on the earth (Rev. 1:4b-6) Putting all your enemies under your feet (1 Cor. 15:25) However, the day deacon-Stephen became a Gospel-martyr, we were given one the most endearing images of your present reign and constant care for us. Lord Jesus, you not only arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, but you also now “rise for the occasion” of our greatest crises and needs. Stephen saw you “standing at the right hand of God.” You gave him grace to forgive his enemies (Acts. 7:58-60), and a loving welcome into your very presence. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation! So very Amen, indeed 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

Answer the Door

May 13, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Answer the Door SCOTTY SMITH “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Rev. 3:20 Lord Jesus, you’re not lonely or cold, and you don’t need our permission to “come in.” Your “knock” is both a rebuke and a kiss. How do we get so busy, distracted, or satisfied with lesser things, we don’t even recognize with we’re no longer enjoying unrushed, heart-connecting, time with you? It’s like we’re okay with social distancing from you, without a pandemic. The only thing we’d “catch” from you is grace upon grace. Thank you for constantly pursuing us. Thank you for always initiating fellowship, communion, and nourishment with us. Though we’d never presume to call you “friend,” you call us your friends (John 15:15). In fact, you’ve made us your betrothed bride—longing for the Day when a table meal becomes a wedding feast. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Thank you for loving us that much. Though you could kick down the door, climb in through a window, or come in through the “crawl space,” you knock on our heart’s portal each day. Daily mercies, Gospel-manna, living water… your very self, that’s what you give us. It’s not about us making you a “priority,” or making you anything. It’s about you making us yours—by your life, death, and resurrection. Convicted, humbled, and grateful, we welcome you in, Lord Jesus. So very 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

Putting on Jesus

May 12, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Putting on Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies…” (Eph. 6:10-11); “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 13:14) Lord Jesus, we easily forget our greatest enemies in life aren’t people, but principalities and powers. Though you crushed the devil’s head on the cross, he awaits his eradication at your return. Hasten the Day. Knowing his time is short (Rev. 12:12), the devil, overtly and covertly, seeks to harm everything you treasure and cherish. Help us recognize his snarly schemes (2 Cor. 2:11), and prowling ways (1 Pet. 5:8). As we surrender to you and resist our defeated foe, he will actually flee from us (James 4:7). Indeed, you are our greatest peace and protection—not juggling and adjusting 17 pieces of armor. As surely as we get dressed each day, so we must “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” You don’t just give us armor, you are our armor—our “righteousness, holiness, and redemption.” The best way to do spiritual warfare isn’t by fighting the devil; but by preaching the Gospel to ourselves and abiding in your love. In you, we have all the riches of grace. By you, we have wisdom, joy, and hope. For you, we long and are being kept. With you, we enter this day—dependent, expectant, and ever-so-grateful. Unto you, we will live and love. So very Amen we pray, in your 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

When Talking to Ourselves Is a Good Thing

May 11, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When Talking to Ourselves Is a Good Thing SCOTTY SMITH “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5 Lord Jesus, (1) we can talk to ourselves contemptuously, heaping on blame and shame (as though there is no Gospel). (2) We can talk to ourselves arrogantly, reminding ourselves of our awesomeness and self-sufficiency (an illusion, needing re-inflating every day). Or (3) we can talk to ourselves like King David did. We choose door #3 today, and hopefully, every day. Not as murmurers, babblers, or blowhards, but as those who belong to you, by creation and redemption, we call ourselves to Gospel sanity. Jesus, you promise a rest you alone can provide. You give a hope only you can guarantee. So, on this Tuesday in May—not in a “mind over matter” fashion, but in a “Gospel-over-all-things” reality, we say to ourselves… “Anxious self, find your rest today in Jesus, alone. Take your restlessness to the One who gave you birth and new birth, a new heart and his perfect record—the One who won your peace and is your peace—to the One at work in all things for your good, and is making all things new.” “Vulnerable heart-O-mine, don’t plug your “peace-cord” into mere people. Don’t hitch your “hope-wagon” to burros without legs. Only Jesus knows you thoroughly, and loves you totally. He is all you need, and you are truly his.” Lord Jesus, we offer ourselves and our prayer gratefully, in your grace-full name, 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

Not a Thornless Life, But Never a Graceless Day

May 10, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Not a Thornless Life, But Never a Graceless Day SCOTTY SMITH “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me”. 2 Cor. 12:9 Heavenly Father, what a great verse to sit in all week-long. You gave Paul “sufficient grace” for his “thorn in the flesh”—though he really wanted to be thorn-free. You haven’t promised us a thornless life, but we’ll never know a graceless day. Thank you. For our “thorns in the flesh”: Grant us grace to accept the inconvenient, limiting, painful things going on in our bodies. Make Jesus more near and dear to us. Increase our mercy for fellow sufferers. For our “burrs in the saddle”: Father, some of us are dealing with irritating people and aggravating circumstances. Give us bigger hearts and thicker skins, wisdom from above and grace on the ground. For our “punches in the gut”: Some of us are reeling from fresh disappointments, betrayals, or losses. Thank you for being a “Father of compassion and God of all comfort.” Help us catch our breath, gain perspective, and experience your calming, centering presence all week long. For our “arrows to the heart”: Nothing hurts as much as relational pain. Father, grant us the grace we need to love well in messy, complex situations. You gave Jesus to us and for us. Certainly, we can trust you for everything else we really need. 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