Porcupine or Labradoodle?

October 9, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Porcupine or Labradoodle? SCOTTY SMITH   “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise (Prov. 15:31). Whoever hates correction is stupid (Prov. 12:1). “Better a poor and wise youth than an old, foolish king who no longer knows how to take advice” (Eccl. 4:13). Lord Jesus, scanning through my old NIV, it’s no surprise how many verses I’ve highlighted about staying teachable, correctable, and receiving feedback humbly. I’m not an “old king,” but I am 71 and change, and I’d love to finish life less condemn-able, but more convict-able and repent-able. After all, my identity isn’t tied to being right, but being righteous in you. Hallelujah! And the more of your beauty, grace, and love I experience in the Gospel, the less I get my feelings hurt, and the more I want my heart to change. So, help me anticipate and welcome feedback—whether it’s about my attitude, excesses, irritating ways, or selfish choices. First of all, let me hear these things in the pages of the Scriptures. Better a humble, gentle, kind heart than a multi-colored underlined Bible. Equally, may I receive feedback non-defensively from my family, friends, co-workers—even angels you send in the form of strangers (Heb. 13:2). If I were to choose an animal analogy, make me less a porcupine, and more a labradoodle. Jesus, Help me, free me, and free me some more. There really is “now therefore NO condemnation.” So very Amen I pray, in your merciful and mighty 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

Our Kind Potter Makes Us Vessels of Grace

October 8, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Our Kind Potter Makes Us Vessels of Grace SCOTTY SMITH “‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us.” Psalm 46:10-11 Heavenly Father, we waste so much, (too much), energy wishing, regretting, sighing, lamenting, bemoaning things. Whether it’s stories from the past, conditions in the present, or new fears we’re baking in the “oven of our hearts”—there are few peace-thieves as effective as the “if-only’s” and “what-if’s.” Given the opportunity, most of us would love a re-do on certain chapters and choices in our lives. But your name is Redeemer, not Re-Do. You bring your mercy into our messes. We’re the same clay we’ve always been, but as the Kind-Potter, you are crafting us into vessels of grace. Thank you, Father. Today, and every day, you call us to cease our striving, have done with our vexing, and forsake our worrying. To “be still, and know you are God,” isn’t to shut up and shut down. It’s to get low and be expectant, for grace always runs downhill. You tell us “I will be exalted among the nation—even throughout the earth.” Not might, but will be. You also tell us you are at work in all things for our good, you’re making beauty from our ashes, and you’re turning our mourning into dancing. Why would/do we doubt you? Having given Jesus for our salvation, won’t you/aren’t you also giving us everything else we need? (Rom. 8:32). So Very Amen, and Hallelujah! 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’s Kindness and Love Keep Appearing

October 7, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH God's Kindness and Love Keep Appearing SCOTTY SMITH   “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 4:3 Heavenly Father, what a worship-fueling summary of how you relate to us every day, in every context, with no exceptions. Whether it’s “out of the blue,” or from within dark clouds—with a whisper, song, or shout. Sometimes through a friend, always by your Word, often by some unexpected providence, you keep “appearing.” Thank you. Though you never leave us, you “show up” at just the right time, and you always bring an ample supply of your kindness and love. Not because we are deserving, worthy, or show potential—only because you are our “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). Mercy is our only cry; grace is your free gift. Father, many of us are primed for just such a well-timed, mercy-filled appearing. Weakness gains steady momentum, weariness kind of creeps up on us—all of a sudden, we glance at the dashboard of our souls, and we see our heart-gage is approaching empty. Father, you have saved us for eternity. We now look to you to meet us in this moment. I have (we all have) friends who need fresh baked grace-manna from heaven, and a few cups of cold living water. Without exception, we will always find you welcoming, kind, and generous. So very Amen, we pray in Jesus’ most 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

Hope for Ourselves and Others

October 6, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Hope for Ourselves and Others SCOTTY SMITH   “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Phil. 1:6 Heavenly Father, thank you for everything gifted to us in this one treasured verse. You sovereignly began your grace-work in us that you will finish. We are chosen, not choice. We didn’t show promise or potential; you demonstrated mercy and power in raising us from death to life. Hallelujah, many times over. This not only takes the pressure off of us for ourselves, but it also frees us to trust you for those who seem too lost, too indifferent, too irreligious, or too anything else. We are so glad you didn’t send Jesus to be our model to follow, but our substitute to trust. Jesus fulfilled your law for us, took our judgment on the cross, and was raised for our justification. From beginning to end, our salvation is from you, by you, and for your glory. Whether we are awake or asleep, you are continuing your work in us. We are your workmanship, handiwork, masterpieces—each of us destined to be like Jesus one eternally scheduled day, the Day of his return. Thank you for already freeing us from the penalty of sin, and for breaking the power of sin in our lives. But we ache, crave, hanker, intensely long for the eternal Day of being completely free from the presence of sin—in us and all around us. Soon, Father, please soon. A big a 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

Grasshoppers, Snares, and God’s Desire

October 5, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Grasshoppers, Snares, and God's Desire SCOTTY SMITH   “We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers.” (Num. 13:33); “The fear of man is a snare…” (Prov. 29:25); “I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.” (Song of Songs 7:10) Heavenly Father, around some people, we can feel and act like “grasshoppers”—small, vulnerable, and powerless. The irony is, they may only be half our height and 1/3 our age and weight. Whether it’s a child, a spouse, a boss, or friend—giving any human being more power over our heart than you intend never works out well. We can’t love anyone well whose approval we need, indifference we dread, and rejection we fear. We’ll be easily manipulated, overly insecure, and emotionally unpredictable—which doesn’t sound very free, at all. Father, you’ve given us a relational-DNA that intensely craves you; and you’ve placed a Jesus-shaped vacuum in our hearts that only He can satisfy. Mere people—even really good ones, will never be enough. At best, our most enjoyable human relationships are a gift, hint, and taste of what it means to belong to you. At worst, we use them as a substitute for intimacy with you. Forgive us, and free us. Convince us, again and again, Father, that, through the Gospel, we do belong to you; and that your desire, gladness, and love for us are now, real, and never-ending. 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

“Un-Snatch-able” Friends, Let’s Hear/Heed Jesus’ Voice

October 4, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "Un-Snatch-able" Friends, Let's Hear/Heed Jesus' Voice SCOTTY SMITH   “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Jn. 10:27-28 Lord Jesus, as you know—because you do know all things, 7 days a week, I put in my Apple Pro noise-canceling earbuds, with a hope of walking 7 miles every day. That’s not a boast, but a post-being-able-run, biking’s-too-dangerous way of getting some exercise for my aging body. It’s also a thanks. Thank you that I can still walk, Lord. You know the sadness I felt when my knees stopped giving me permission to jog. Way more importantly, walking has become a concentrated time of hearing your voice through the read, taught, preached Word, and by music that fills my heart with the grace, truth, and riches of the Gospel. It also gives me a chance to call, encourage, and pray for friends; and receive their encouragement in the Gospel as well. Because of the noise-canceling feature, it’s wonderful what I don’t hear. I tune out of the madness of voices that just want to sell me something—material stuff, an ideology, pet peeve, gripe or “snake oil.” The devil is always trying to get me (us) to tie my identity to something other than You, the Gospel, and your will/provision for my life. Lord Jesus, long after I can’t walk very far, I want to hear your voice 1000 times more clearly than all others. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ glorious 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