We Cannot Over-Believe Or Over-Rejoice in the Gospel

July 24, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Cannot Over-Believe Or Over-Rejoice in the Gospel SCOTTY SMITH “Wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.” Rom. 4:4-5 Heavenly Father, this Scripture sabotages everything we assume about the way life is “supposed to work”. We expect what’s coming to us. We demand fairness—an honest return for our labor, time, and sweat. Thankfully, the Gospel flies in the face of normalcy, conventionality, and predictability. Thank you for not being “fair” with us. Thank you for being immeasurably generous, irrepressibly kind, and scandalously good. What we could never earn—a perfect righteousness, you’ve credited to us as a gift. What we fully deserve—to be dealt with according to our sin, you’ll never do. What we cannot imagine—that you’d justify ungodly people (like us), you’ve done—legally, fully, and joyfully. Because of Jesus’ once-and-for-all finished work, our sins are once-and-for-all forgiven—never to be remembered against us. Hallelujah! Father, thank you for reconciling us to yourself through Jesus, and for placing us in your now-and-forever, unwavering favor. Make this 100—no, 1000 times more real to us than the way people disappoint us. Thank you for replacing our deserved judgment with your exuberant acceptance, unending delight, and constant serenading (Zeph. 3:14-17). By the power of the Holy Spirit, drive the Gospel deeper and deeper into our hearts. We long for the Day when we’ll never dis-believe or under-believe the Gospel again. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy 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

When We Aren’t Enough, and Don’t Have Enough

July 23, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When We Aren't Enough, and Don't Have Enough The disciples said to Jesus, “Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked… “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish” … Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them… Afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish… 5000 men and their families were fed. (Mark 6:35-44) Lord Jesus, our circumstances vary greatly from this story; but each of us face heart-overwhelming circumstances in life. You call us to do things, love well, and trust you—when it’s easy, and when it’s not. Fortunately, you don’t usually ask us to feed 5000 men and their families. But some relationships, some challenges, some stories feel that impossible. But when our very little is combined with you “a lot,” anything you ask of us will happen—in your time and way, all to your glory. Jesus, I pray with and for my friends this morning. You know what feels overwhelming and impossible to us. But whether we own a fleet of fishing boats, a bread factory, or are facing “more month left over at the end of the check”—the truth is, we’re always “5-loaves-and-2-fish” disciples. Free us to trust you, and delight in you. Do in us, and through us, that will bring you the most glory, Lord Jesus. In your merciful and mighty 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

God Wrote This On Our Hearts

July 22, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH God Wrote This On Our Hearts SCOTTY SMITH “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Pet. 3:8 Heavenly Father, you’ve written your Law, not just on the pages of the Bible, but also on the new heart you’ve given us (Jer. 31:33; Heb. 8:10). In the coming months, may this portion of your will be written into our lives, with the indelible ink of grace. What a beautiful picture—your people, (even before Jesus’ return), offering the watching world a culture of unity, sympathy, familial love, tender hearts, and humble minds. The Holy Spirit’s work can certainly come in many forms, but these 5 signs of Gospel-renewal would “rock-and-shock” our current graceless culture. Father, how in the world (your world) did we become so on-edge, in-your-face, out-of-fear reactionary? When did we trade kindness for curtness, listening for labeling, and compassion for canceling? When he wrote these words, Peter’s world was much more difficult for believers to navigate than ours. Nero would soon burn Rome, and blame Christians. Believers were the insignificant minority, easy targets, and culturally irrelevant. Into the young, vulnerable church, you were welcoming people from all nations, any skin color, contradictory worldviews—the religious and ill-religious. And you made it clear, they (and we) were/are called to love as Jesus loves, forgive as you forgive, and grow Spirit-fruit—not emit flesh-work. Have mercy on us, Father. Grant us repentant faith, Gospel-renewal, and bold love. 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

Jesus Is the Lord of the Dance

July 21, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Is the Lord of the Dance SCOTTY SMITH You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. Ps. 30:11–12 Lord Jesus, overwhelmed with gladness, King David once danced with all his might and very little modesty (2 Sam. 6:14). Perhaps his joy was so great because his need was so daily, and God’s grace was so real. This “man after your own heart,” also waltzed into adultery with Bathsheba, and ran from the murderous plots of King Saul and Absalom, his son. Great need, great grace, and great joy go hand in hand. Lord Jesus, you are the true Lord of the Dance—the One who turns our wailing into dancing—the One who frees us to praise in our pain, sing in our sorrows, and rejoice in our repenting. Indeed, how can we resist singing and making music in our hearts to you? (Eph. 5:18-19) How can we possibly remain silent and still in response to who you are, what you’ve done for us, and every good thing we have in you? One Day, we too will praise with all our might. May that coming Day greatly impact on this day. Free us and teach us to dance, Jesus—metaphorically and literally. So very Amen we pray, in your grace-full and gladsome 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

Delighting in God’s Love and Faithfulness

July 19, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Delighting in God's Love and Faithfulness SCOTTY SMITH  “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:1-2 Heavenly Father, Ethan the Ezrahite gets the credit for this Psalm, but you’re the reason it could be written. We begin this Monday in the uber-steadfastness of your love, and the rock-steadiness of your faithfulness. As fully as possible, we want to delight in both—not merely dabble in them. Because of what you have done for us in Jesus, we can be certain you won’t be using a scorecard, thermometer, or scale to measure our performance today… or forever. Hallelujah, and “Whew!” Because you’ve raised us to newness of life in Jesus, and have hidden our lives in his, you cannot love us more than you do right now. In fact, every nanosecond you love us just as much as you love Jesus—astonishing... Even when you discipline us, it’s never out of irritation or exasperation, but only by the favor and affection you have lavished on us in Jesus. Such kindness moves us to repentance like nothing else. Such love compels us to worship you, and love others with more compassion and grace. Lastly, Father, free us to rest more fully in your inviolate sovereignty and unwavering faithfulness. Nothing can alter, deter, or derail your plans for us, and all national, global, and cosmic matters. In Jesus’ name, and with tons of gratitude, 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

Friending Today, in Light of the Day

July 18, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Friending Today, in Light of the Day SCOTTY SMITH “Dear friends, build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and keep yourself in the love of God—as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life.” Jude 20-21 Lord Jesus, I’m more convinced than ever of the need to walk with a Gospel-posse—with friends committed to (1) building each other up in the riches of the Gospel, (2) committed to pray for each other by the prompting and power of the Spirit, (3) constantly marinating in the wonders of your love, and (4) living with a view to your return, and our forever-life in the new heaven and new earth. No exaggeration, we all need friends who smell like grace, love mercy, and walk in the beauty of vulnerability and humility with each other. For each of us goes through challenging seasons—especially as we get older. Health challenges, heart-drift, and hard providences; old wounds surface with fresh pain, and relationship issues will be daily till the Day you return. But in the Gospel, you call us to love each other well, no matter the scenario or season. Friends love in every season—even when life is messy, mercurial, or magnificent.    But this is our hope, peace, and assurance. You will bring us all the way Home, robed in your righteousness, filled with your great joy (Jude 24-24). Thank you, Lord Jesus. So very Amen we pray, in your 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