The Grace-Crushing of Our “Me-First-Ness”

November 20, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Grace-Crushing of Our "Me-First-Ness" SCOTTY SMITH “Diotrephes, who loves to be first...” (3 John 9); “The Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt 20:28); “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3). Lord Jesus, these passages present a most striking contrast. Diotrephes loved to be first. But you loved us by taking the “last” place, the lowest place—the cross. Diotrephes thought of getting and keeping. You had everything (literally), and gave your life as a ransom—as the full payment for our salvation. You didn’t consider your equality with God something to be held onto for personal gain. You have never loved to be first. Rather, you emptied yourself as the quintessential Servant—serving us by your life, death, and resurrection (Phil. 2:1-11). Now, you ever live to serve us as our Advocate, Intercessor, and King. Even when you return, you will serve us (Luke 12:37; Rev. 7:17). Lord Jesus, your unimaginable humility, unparalleled servanthood, and immeasurable love convict us to the core. It’s a “big ask,” but during the upcoming season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, will you restore our first love, first joy, and first humility? May our “me-first-ness” get crushed under the glorious weight of your mercy, grace, and love. So very Amen we pray, in your most merciful and matchless 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

Before We Have to Repent, Let’s “Prepent”

November 19, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Before We Have to Repent, Let's "Prepent" SCOTTY SMITH “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Abide in my love.” John 15:9 Lord Jesus, it’s a given, we’re not going to love perfectly until the Day you return to finish making all things new. We will have plenty to repent of until we are “perfected in love” (1 John 4:17). This doesn’t mean we should set our “love bar” low, or not try to love others as you love us. It means we should start “prepenting” before we need to repent. Preemptive grace-investing gives us something to draw on when we need to make grace withdrawals. There’s absolutely no better way to “prepent” than to take today’s prayer-verse very seriously, joyfully, and gratefully. Jesus, help us deeply believe you aren’t exaggerating when you tell us you love us “even as” the Father loves you. This means you love us to the same degree, and with the same delight, that our heavenly Father loves you. It’s why the Apostle Paul called your relationship with us “unsearchable riches” (Eph. 3:8). So, what’s the way forward in this life of “prepentance?” We are to “abide” in the great love you have for us. “Abide”—not occasionally visit, stop by when convenient, or only run to when in a love-crisis. It makes all the Gospel-sense in the world: The fuller we are with your love, the less we will be triggered by others, and the freer we will be in challenging relationships. We’ll repent quicker when our thoughts, words, and actions contradict your kindness, gentleness, and love. Jesus, help us with our “prepentance” every one of the last 42 days of 2021. A BIG 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

Better Than Gore-Tex in a Spirt-Storm

November 18, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Better Than Gore-Tex in a Spirt-Storm SCOTTY SMITH “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col. 3:12 Heavenly Father, these prayers go to many time zones, climates, seasons, and weather fronts. Here in Franklin, TN, we’re moving from yesterday’s 70 degrees and blue skies into today’s 50ish with a big serving of heavy rain, dropping down to the high 20’s tonight. It’s schizophrenia time for our closets. What to wear in middle Tennessee is an ever-changing constant. Fortunately, you’ve made our heart-garment choices so easy—no matter the dew point. As your set-apart and dearly loved children, there are 5 articles we are to clothe ourselves with all the time. Compassion + Kindness + Humility + Gentleness + Patience    They’re never out of style, and better than Gore-Tex when it’s raining criticisms-and-spite. So breathable but warm and very comfortable next to the heart—no matter how many other layers we have on, our hearts are naked and vulnerable without these 5 grace-raiments. All metaphors and cleverness aside, Father, this is serious stuff. How we love matters, for you have told us “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” (Gal. 5:6). We’ve always had to deal with “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matt. 7:15), but now we have sheep wearing wolves’ clothing. “Christian-cannibalism” should be an oxymoron, not the new dress code. Forgive us. Pour out your Spirit on us. May we out honor, out love, out kind one another. 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

Without the Gospel This Is Laughable

November 17, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Without the Gospel This Is Laughable SCOTTY SMITH “Do everything in love.” 1 Cor. 16:10 Heavenly Father, “Do everything in love?… seriously? There’s only one reason to take this admonition seriously. We love because you first loved us and gave Jesus as our perfect and complete Savior (1 John 4:19). We won’t love perfectly till heaven, but we are already loved perfectly by you. Now and forever, you love us without conditions, limits, qualifiers, or disqualifiers. It’s only because of your great love for us in Jesus we can risk loving when it’s not easy, won’t be reciprocated, and requires more than we want to give. Help us, Father.   Help us love well when we’re tired, frustrated, and sleep-deprived. Help us love well when we get triggered by past wounds and broken trust. Help us love well when conflict is inevitable and necessary—like a boil-lancing. Help us love well by remembering the Gospel—more so than real hurts. Help us love well by taking back the power we gave people to shame us. Help us love well—not using kindness and politeness to get something. Help us love well during Thanksgiving. Holidays can be fun, tricky, and messy. Help us love well, releasing control, outcomes, and our fears to you. Help us love well—by giving grace, not getting even.   Father, keep our hearts alive to your tenacious, wild, outrageous, joyful, transforming love for us in Jesus. That will make all the difference in the world. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ 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

Peace for Making Choices, Plans, and Decisions

November 16, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Peace for Making Choices, Plans, and Decisions SCOTTY SMITH   “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” Prov. 16:9;  “What he (Jesus) opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open” Rev. 3:7;  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Prov. 3:5-6. Lord Jesus, some decisions are “no-brainers,” and some require nothing more than sanctified common sense. Others tie us in knots, rob us of sleep, and keep us second-guessing. These Scriptures remind us that our choices aren’t sovereign, only you are. (Big Hallelujah!) We have every reason to trust you with all of our hearts, Jesus. For you created us for your glory, graced us with full salvation, are ruling over the kings of the earth, and are working in all things for our good. You aren’t pulling for us from afar; you’re shepherding us where we are. Jesus, make our ways straight as we seek to honor you with the decisions in front of us. Open doors we can’t shut, and shut doors we can’t open. Decisions that impact our relationships, our vocations, our health, our finances, our future, (and friends, whatever else is “on your plates”). Lord Jesus, we are grateful to know life isn’t primarily about making the right decisions, but trusting the right Lord—and that is you. By faith, we lean as fully upon you as we know how. So very Amen we 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

“Beautified”

November 15, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "Beautified" SCOTTY SMITH “The LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.” Psalm 149:4 Lord Jesus, darkness wasn’t the only thing falling as I finished my walk last evening. Plenteous tears of gratitude and worship also fell. I was listening to a live recording of one of my all-time favorite singer-songwriters, Bob Bennett. It’d been many years since the last time I heard Bob’s arrangement of Psalm 149. And since the Book of Psalms, like all of Scripture, directs our hearts to you (Luke 24:44), it didn’t take long for my heart-water to flow. That you love us is one thing, Jesus. But that you actually take pleasure in us… that reaches into the deepest place of our hearts—the soul-region of our oldest longings and most unrelenting ache. We believe you. Help our unbelief. You don’t just love your people. You take please in us. We spend so much time and energy trying to fill up the relentless inner-vacuum we carry, fumbling around with a You-shaped intimacy-quest, wrongly assuming some human somewhere will be enough. Jesus, indeed, thank you for our healthiest, kindness, most endearing people relationships. But they are pointers to you, not replacements of you. It’s You we want, more than anything or anyone else. Keep us restless till we rest in you again. In the upcoming season of Advent, beautify us anew, Jesus, with by your grace. Already robed in the wedding-garment of your righteousness, grant us the meekness, humility, softness, and gentleness of those you call “my beloved Bride.” 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