Learning and Re-Learning Contentment

June 19, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Learning and Re-Learning Contentment SCOTTY SMITH “I’ve learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” Phil. 4:11-12 Lord Jesus, I never had to go to summer school, but I’m sure I won’t graduate from the “school of grace” until you return. “Contentment” is one bit of heaven’s curriculum for which I need a refreshment course, and you’re an awesome teacher. I know you’re not calling us to kill our longings, demonize desire, or decry pleasure. But I have discovered comparison, ingratitude, and discontent to be radioactive sink holes, filled with joy-consuming piranha and poisonous hairy spiders. So, Jesus, whether I’m the Grand Marshal of the fun-parade, or it “rains on my parade”; whether I’m eating filet of Halibut or slice of SPAM; whether I’m feeling appreciated, ignored, or forgotten—even when Duke beats Carolina, I want my joy and satisfaction to be found in you. Not eye-rolling resigned, or Zen-like in denial, but truly grateful for every good thing we have in you, and by you. Please heal my Gospel-amnesia and doxological dementia. Remove the cataracts and astigmatism from the eyes of my heart. Show me more of yourself, Jesus, and how your hand and heart at work everywhere. So very Amen I pray, in your all-glorious and all-generous 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 as the “A-to-Z” of Life

June 18, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Gospel as the "A-to-Z" of Life SCOTTY SMITH “Acting in line with the truth of the gospel...” Gal. 2:14 Lord Jesus, some of us grew up thinking of the Gospel primarily as how we begin a relationship with you—the welcome, entrance, and door to eternal life. The good news is, it’s that and so much more. The Gospel is the “A-to-Z” of life because you are the Alpha and Omega—the beginning, middle, end of all things. For you are Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Consummator of all things. Hallelujah! To “act in line with the truth of the Gospel,” is to view every sphere of life in terms of you. It’s to make these kinds of questions our first thoughts and queries: “What are the implications of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection for this relationship, this new opportunity, this challenging situation, this… (anything and everything)?” Not, (What would Jesus do, if he were here?), but, “What is Jesus doing here, right now?” “How is our Lord calling us to think about money and time, the beauty of creation and the brokenness in our culture?” “How does Jesus’ present and coming Kingdom compel us to care about the salvation of our neighbors, the ugly of racism, the evil of human trafficking, global missions, the health of his church?” Indeed, Lord Jesus, to “act in line with the truth of the gospel,” doesn’t mean we’ll always be the “sweetest” person in the room, but nobody will be more redemptively present. Free us, help us, change us. 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

Satan Abhors and Fears Our Love for Jesus

June 17, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Satan Abhors and Fears Our Love for Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “I promised you to one husband, to Christ… but I’m afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:2–3 Lord Jesus, two things are unmistakably clear in this passage. The first thing, we belong to you as a washed, dressed, cherished Bride. If this doesn’t “fire us up,” we don’t have wet firewood, we have dead hearts. The second thing, Satan hates the “first thing.” He’ll do anything to diminish, divert, and destroy our delight in you. He abhors your love for us, and fears our “first love” or any affection we have for you. Whether through condemnation or persecution, seduction or suffering, busyness or laziness, his strategy is the same—to steal our hearts away from you. The devil doesn’t care if we admire and appreciate you, as long as we’re not smitten, head-over-heels passionate for you. Wake us from our slumber, Jesus. Make your love for us the most compelling and consuming reality in our lives. Restore to us the love we had for you as new believers. We were so free and joyful, humbled and “gaga”—so focused on you. Nothing else really mattered. Thank you for already clothing us in the wedding-garment of your righteousness, and for loving us right now as much as you ever will. 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

Thoughts Obeying Jesus

June 16, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Thoughts Obeying Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4 Lord Jesus, this may be the first time I’ve noticed what Paul is actually saying in this passage. Having our thought-life obey you is different from simply thinking about good stuff, right doctrine, and Bible verses. Each of which is awesome to ponder. Paul want us to realize our thinking is a relational commitment, not just a cognitive exercise. Our thoughts will obey someone; they don’t just get filled with something. Jesus, this humbles me, but it also gladdens me. It humbles me when I consider your competition. At the top of the list is me, myself, and I. I easily default to the trinity-of-me as the lord of my thinking. When this happens, my “rights,” fears, values, insecurities, pain and prejudice become the “corral” where my thoughts are held captive. That’s where they feed and breed, and impact every aspect of my life—not a pleasant image. I’m gladdened, however, to know you want the obedience of our thinking. Because, first and foremost, you want to show each of us more of your glory and grace, beauty and bounty, Gospel and Kingdom. When our thoughts obey you, we see the world and people through your eyes. Our emotions get fueled with grace, not just triggered by pain. Our choices get shaped by you, and what matters to you—not merely by our worries, whims, and wishes. May it be so, Lord Jesus. Yea, verily, and 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

We Still Know and Love “In Part”

June 15, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Still Know and Love "In Part" SCOTTY SMITH “We know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” 1 Cor. 13:9-10; “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Gal. 5:6 Lord Jesus, life in the new heaven and new earth is going to be jaw-dropping astonishing, for many reasons. For starters, your return will put an end to all knowing and loving “in part.” Biblical and theological differences, skirmishes, and wars will be a thing of the past. For we will see you, Lord Jesus, in all your glory and grace—the “Yes” to every promise God ever made in the Scriptures, the Point of every passage in the Bible; the One about whom the Law, Prophets, and Psalms speak. The best teaching, preaching, writing, and theological reasoning (this side of your return), will all be seen as woefully inadequate descriptions of your magnificence and mercy—mere hints, whispers, and approximations of your glory and grace. We’ll all be gladly humbled, awe-struck, undone, and overwhelmed about just how worship-worthy, breath-taking beautiful, and impossible-to-fathom loving you really are. Indeed, when we see you, Lord Jesus, we will be made like you. Perfectly conformed to your image, we will begin our forever life of loving each other just as fully and freely as you love us right now. Jesus, in light of that Day, convict and compel us to love better in this day—much better. In your tender and triumphant 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

Are We Under-Dressed?

June 14, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Are We Under-Dressed? SCOTTY SMITH “The kindness of God leads you to repentance…” (Rom. 2:4); “When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…” (Tit. 3:4); “Clothe yourselves with… kindness” (Col. 3:12). Heavenly Father, there’s so much “kindness” contained in this tapestry of Scriptures. It was your kindness (not harshness) that convinced us of our need of Jesus. Free-grace salvation came to us as a kindness-epiphany—raising us, like Lazarus, from the darkness of our sin-tomb. Thank you! On this June Monday, some of us are in vacation-mode, more of us are in vocation-mode. All of us dress context appropriate. But our most important and eternal context is “in-Christ,” and until we’ve clothed ourselves with kindness, we are “under-dressed.” Though our culture is getting more cancel-happy, hubris-soaked, and harshness-fluent, that’s not who you call us to be. All week may our hearts beat with gratitude for your kindness, our attitudes give off the aroma of your kindness, and our words be spoken with the power of your kindness. In our stickiest conflicts and most difficult relationships, in our theological differences and opposing perspectives, there’s always a kinder way forward. Indeed, whether on vacation or in vocation—we choose kindness over rightness, serving over winning; and exercising our repenting, more than exercising our authority. Compel us to love others as Jesus loves us, Father. Help us think, feel, speak, and act in line with the truth of the Gospel. 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