Jesus Is the Peace-Guarantor. We’re His Peace-Gardeners

September 11, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Is the Peace-Guarantor. We're His Peace-Gardeners SCOTTY SMITH   “His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6); “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt. 5:9); “Peacemakers who sow in peace will raise a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:18) Lord Jesus, it’s here again—the day with its own numeric branding, “9/11.” Many days in history stand out as clarion expressions of evil, underscoring our great need for redemption. September 11, 2001 is on that list. I certainly remember what I felt—incredulous, afraid, angry, then numb. And my dear wife—it was Darlene’s 50th birthday. Now we have a new numeric marker than will be remembered for generations—”Covid-19.” Unlike “9/11,” it hasn’t just drawn a line of division between waring nations, but between good friends, close families, co-workers—even among those you call your beloved Bride. Yet in it all—in every place brokenness is burgeoning, divisiveness is deepening, and fear is flourishing, you call us to a life of peace-sowing, peace-making, and peace-expecting. Are we naïve, foolish, or wasting our time to do so? No… 1000 times No! For you, Lord Jesus, are the “Prince of Peace” and Peace-Guarantor; and you’ve made us “peace-gardeners.” Your cross-death the ultimate “peace-sowing”; and your resurrection is the firstfruits of a peace-harvest so grand, it’s call “the new heaven and new earth.” We cry aloud, “Maranatha!” Come, Lord Jesus, come! Until then, give us all the mercy, grace, and peace we need to live and love to your glory. 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

This Is True. This Is Yours. Nothing Better

September 10, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH This Is True. This Is Yours. Nothing Better SCOTTY SMITH “He (God) will (does) take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zeph. 3:17 Heavenly Father, you really are this good. Though our full experience of your great delight, quieting love, and joyful serenading await us in heaven, this is exactly how you relate to us today, and every day. You don’t love and delight in us to the degree we are Christ-like; but on the basis of our “in-Christ-ness” and “Christ-within-ness.” Through our union with Christ, we already have all the forgiveness and righteousness we’ll ever need. And Christ living inside of us is our “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27)—that is, the guarantee you will complete your work of salvation in us (Phil. 1:6). We won’t just “make it to glory,” we are destined to be as gloriously loving as Jesus (1 John 3 :1-3). How do we respond to all this, Father? First of all, thank you—a HUGE and eternal thank you for the person and work of Jesus. Secondly, keep freeing us from our chronic unbelief, Gospel-amnesia, and grace-aversion. Thirdly, please turn the volume way up on your joyful singing over us. It’s happening right now in the courts of heaven; make it unmistakably real and unavoidably loud in the chambers of our hearts. May the Gospel be like the best noise-canceling ear-pods ever—enabling us to feel your delight, know your quieting love, and hear your serenading above all the noise. Please Father, in Jesus’ name we pray.   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

One Paragraph Chocked-Full of What We Really Want

September 9, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH One Paragraph Chocked-Full of What We Really Want SCOTTY SMITH “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights (mind, heart, affection) on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 Lord Jesus, 1000 times “Yes!” to everything Paul says in this one astonishing paragraph. We were co-crucified with you (Gal. 2:20), buried with you (Col. 2:12), and have been raised to newness of life in you. Our future with you is off-the-charts-glorious. From your perspective, your relationship with us defines us more than anything else. But today, like every day, we may, or may not choose, to agree with you. That sounds so silly, so foolish, so “toddler-ish” or “teenager-like”. But it’s true. For a variety of foolish reasons, we might prefer to fill our thinking with earthly stuff, not the realities of heaven. ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ (Matt. 6:31). Perhaps setting our hearts on relationships with mere people is more appealing than pondering every good thing we have in you. What people think of us, how they fail us, what we deserve from them—there goes the 24 hours of today. Lord Jesus, free and heal us; then free us some more, then heal us a bit more. You are our life. Hallelujah, and 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

Peter Needed Some Humble Pie

September 8, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Peter Needed Some Humble Pie SCOTTY SMITH   “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29) Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things… must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.” (Mark 8:31-32) Lord Jesus, the question you asked Peter remains the most important question for us to ponder. And as with Peter, repeating an answer we’ve heard doesn’t mean we love the Savior you are. Peter’s definition of your Messiahship had no room for your death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead. He wanted you to fit his grid, more than he wanted to need your grace. How comical, Peter took you aside to rebuke you. How glorious, you “took” to the cross to redeem Peter—and us. Lord Jesus, continue to rescue us from our unbelief-diseased, culture-bound, self-serving, naive-but-deadly-wrong thoughts about you. There’s always more to you, and we’ll stay in discovery-mode of your glory and grace throughout eternity. Indeed, you are Creator, Sustainer, and Restorer of all things—the Alpha and Omega, and everything in between. Angels worship you; birds depend on you; we trust in you, as our righteous, holiness, and redemption. You are our reigning King, throne-of-grace occupying High Priest, and returning Bridegroom. You are sovereign over days, dominions, and dandelions. There’s not one nanosecond you’re not loving us, and ruling the cosmos. So very Amen we pray, in your most treasured and grace-full 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

Salt and Light, Not Habanero Sauce and Flame-Throwers

September 7, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Salt and Light, Not Habanero Sauce and Flame-Throwers SCOTTY SMITH “You are the salt of the earth,” and “the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:13,14); “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” (Eph. 4:31) Heavenly Father, as your Gospel-cherished, Spirit-indwelt children, these Scriptures grab our attention and arrest our hearts. We’re immersed in a culture of unhinged “malice,” unfiltered “brawling”, and weaponized “bitterness.” It grieves your heart, and it should sadden us as well. We’re to be different, and offer a better way. We’re not to mirror our culture, but offer a redemptive alternative. You’ve called us to be salt and light—offering your healing presence and the light of the Gospel. Father, grant us wisdom, strength and plenty of grace. May the fire in our bones be the purifying fire of your Spirit—compelling us to make much of Jesus, less of ourselves, and more of our neighbors. Help us pull up every root of resentment, bitterness, and spite, growing in the garden of our hearts (Heb. 12:15). Replace them with fresh “shoots” of humility, gentleness, and kindness. In these coming fall months, use us to write stories of “Kingdom-come,” with the ink of grace and the hope of Jesus’ return. Knowing there’s a Day coming when your will will be done “on earth, as in heaven,” helps us immensely. 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

“HALLELUJAH!” > “SaWeeet!”

September 6, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "HALLELUJAH!" > "SaWeeet!" SCOTTY SMITH “It is finished” John 19:30   Heavenly Father, in the USA, it’s Labor Day—a day most of us just view as a holiday weekend, to kick off the fall season. Vocation-wise, we get a paid-for Monday, without working for it. “SaWeeet,” as they say in the southern part of America. Yet few of us know the history behind the gift of a paid day off. In the late 1800’s, the average work week was all 7 days, 10-12 hours a day—women and children included. A woman dressmaker would make 38-52 cents a day. It took defiance, from several emerging labor unions, to force the hand of company owners. They finally gave into the pressure, and gave the “gift” of the first Monday of September, as a thank you to the labor force. Father, all that long-winded history lesson just to say, thank you. Thank you for not being like late 19th-century American company owners. It didn’t take threat, defiance, or rebellion to force you to be generous with us. In fact, in full-view of our rebellion, foolishness, and idolatries, you acted on our behalf. You are rich in mercy, filled with compassion, and overflowing with love. We know this to be true because of the Gospel of your grace. Through Jesus’ labor of love on our behalf, salvation-wise, we get a free eternity without working for it. Jesus’ last words on the cross, “It is finished,” are our first words of freedom. Our response isn’t a mere southern-American “SaWeeet!” With your every-nation, from every-generation family, we cry out—we shout,  “HALLELUJAH!” and 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