Hopes, Fears, and Jesus

November 27, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Hopes, Fears, and Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (Psalm 39:7) “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God” (Isa. 41:10) “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee…” Phillips Brooks   Lord Jesus, it’s hard to believe that in just about 3½ weeks, many of us will be in some sanctuary, public space, online community, or living room… singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” holding lit candles, dripping a little wax, and wondering if everything is ready for the next day—Christmas Day. The most memorable line of Phillips Brooks’ hymn reminds us of two heart-saturating realities, and the one ultimate resolution. What is life but an interplay, collision, and dance between our deepest hopes and greatest fears? Thanksgiving didn’t just serve up turkey, ham, laughter, pumpkin-in-various-forms, and/or vegan delights. It also brought to the table generous portions of hope and fear. Jesus, on this November Saturday, before we do anything else, we want to affirm 3 things: First of all, our hope is in you—not in people changing, you answering our prayers a certain way, circumstances getting better… and this list goes on. Though we emotionally vacillate between hope and hopelessness, we can/do trust you. Secondly, we do have fears—fears of not having enough, being enough, getting what we think we need and/or deserve, fears of “what if’?” and “if only.” You know it’s true, so we don’t have to pretend. Thirdly, our hopes and fears are met in you, not merely by you. You are not a means to our “happy ending.” You yourself are our righteousness, holiness, redemption, portion, joy, satisfaction… and this list goes on as well. For the next 3½ weeks, and the rest of our lives, we want to prove the glories of your righteousness and the wonders of your love. A BIG 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

A Post-Thanksgiving Pre-Advent Prayer

November 26, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Post-Thanksgiving Pre-Advent Prayer SCOTTY SMITH “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” John 4:29 Lord Jesus, the question raised by this newly found-and-loved Samaritan woman, is the perfect prelude for the now-upon-us Christmas season. You exposed the depth of her need, not to blame and shame her, but to love and redeem her (John 4:1–42). Next, she extended your welcome to others. She expected judgment and condemnation, you gave her mercy and kindness. En route to your cross, resurrection, and filling the earth with your glory, you brought the reign of grace to the dark continent of her heart. Thank you for doing the same for us, Jesus. You know every vain, foolish, grace-void thought we’ve ever conceived; every lustful, angry, greedy fantasy in which we’ll ever engage. You hear every grace-robbing, grandstanding, gossipy word we speak. You know the broken cisterns to which we run, and the heart-idols to which we cling. Yet you pursue, welcome, and love us. By the Gospel, you’ve forgiven us and robed us in your righteousness. As we segue from Thanksgiving into Advent, we shout a robust, “Hallelujah!” and we cry out, “Have mercy, Lord.” We pray for loved ones and friends who seem allergic to your grace and strangers to your love—bound by cords of fear, anger, and only-you-know what. We also ask you to forgive our irritation and judgment, Jesus. For we have indulged both this week—towards some of those for whom we now pray. Grant us the compassion, freedom, and patience  you gave the Samaritan woman for her community. They caused her harm, but you intended their good. So very Amen we pray, in your mighty 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-Hitching Our Joy/Peace Wagons from Anything But Jesus

November 25, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Un-Hitching Our Joy/Peace Wagons from Anything But Jesus SCOTTY SMITH   “The boundless riches of Christ…” (Eph. 3:8); “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15) Heavenly Father, on the many things for which we’re grateful today, at the top of our list is the “indescribable gift” and “boundless riches” of the Gospel. What we need more than romance and riches, breath and bread, an everybody-happy-family and no more relational-pain… you have freely given us in Jesus. Though we’d (wrongly) settle for “Little House on the Prairie,” you have given us citizenship in heaven, intimate relationship with yourself, and an amazing grace-family of brothers and sisters in Jesus. Though at times we still hitch our joy and peace-wagons to mere people, you have given us what we always wanted/needed more than anything else. Here are just 7 of a gazillion: 1. Full forgiveness. 2. Jesus’ righteousness credited to us. 3. A new heart which beats by you and for you. 4. All the legal rights and personal delights that come with being your adopted/beloved children. 5. The guarantee you are presently at work in all things for our good. 6. An eternity of perfect everything, won and reserved for us by Jesus (Rev. 21:1-22:6). 7. The assurance that one Day we will be completely sin-free and fully Jesus-like (1 John 3:1-3). Oh, Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for the “indescribable gift(s)” of the Gospel. Until the Day of all-things-new, we can “know and rely on the love you have for us” (1 John 4:16). We will seek to do so this very Thursday, November 25, 2021. 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

Shocked at How Kind, Accepting, and Compassionate We Can Be

November 24, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Shocked at How Kind, Accepting, and Compassionate We Can Be SCOTTY SMITH “Christ’s love compels us...” (2 Cor. 5:15); “May you have the power to understand… how long, how high, and how deep the love of Christ is (Eph. 3:18); “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love “(Gal. 5:6). Heavenly Father, today the airports and highways of America will be full of Thanksgiving travelers and holiday-makers. Tomorrow, the “fullness” will continue with kid-energy, food-comas, and a wide range of emotions. We are grateful for the common joys of life we celebrate during Thanksgiving—favorite dishes. old stories, and new faces (babies, engagements, and guests). The sights and sounds of Christmas also emerge—fueling our joy, and a bit of panic. Holidays also brings front and center, the burdens we bear, the hurts we share, and the “more-ness” and “other-ness” we all crave. Thank you for your promise of sufficient grace, and for your commitment to work in all things for our good. Father, even though it’s not always fun, thank you for your relentless commitment to make the Gospel necessary, precious, and powerful to us—that is, to make Jesus true, good, and beautiful. No family, lover, or friend can fill the place reserved for Jesus in our hearts. How easily we forget. So, for the next few days, help us adjust our expectations of mere people. Ignite our anticipation of your faithfulness and goodness. Free us to extend your welcome, love to your glory, and laugh with your joy. May your peace rule in our hearts so powerfully, we’ll be shocked at how kind, accepting, and compassionate we can actually be. 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

Easily-Offended Isn’t a Fruit of the Holy Spirit

November 23, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Easily-Offended Isn't a Fruit of the Holy Spirit SCOTTY SMITH “Sensible people are slow to anger, and it’s their glory to overlook an offense” (Prov. 19:11); “Don’t take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others” (Eccl. 7:21-22); “Love… isn’t irritable, and doesn’t keep a record of being wronged” (1 Cor 13:5). Lord Jesus, a dear friend gave me a timely image yesterday. “Here’s to a Thanksgiving of walking on seashells, not eggshells.” I laughed, then I lamented, because some people would gladly choose walking on eggshells than continuing to tippy-toe through life in a minefield of people-explosives. Jesus, when did our culture get so easily offended, thin-skinned, and hair-triggerable? But that’s really not the main issue. It’d be too easy to camp out there. The questions I’m personally processing before you include… What does “acting in line with the truth of the Gospel” (Gal. 2:14) look like when dealing with slights, slams, and prickly people? And towards whom have I become “prickly”—more defensive than I realize; more likely to make excuses than listen without interrupting? And in messy relationships, have I shifted from grace-overlooking to conflict-avoiding enabling? Help me/us Jesus. I/we want to love well, not just “play nice.” Easily-offended IS a spirit-fruit, but not a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Fill me and my friends afresh with the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus (Eph. 5:18). May our thoughts, words, reactions, pro-actions, conflicts and normal sinner-with-sinner relationships reveal “faith expressing itself in love” (Gal. 5:6). Thank you, Jesus, 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

In Whatever Abode, Let’s Abide in God’s Love

November 22, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH In Whatever Abode, Let's Abide in God's Love SCOTTY SMITH “We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in them.” 1 John 4:19 Heavenly Father, this is the perfect perspective-setting Scripture for this week. First of all, if we can’t think of anything else for which to be thankful, knowing you love us should keep us in a state of perpetual gratitude. This isn’t cliché, it’s oxygen. Through the finished work of Jesus, all of our sins are forgiven, all judgment is exhausted, and our permanent address is your unwavering affection and favor. Hallelujah! More so than our street and house number, our favorite hotel room in the world, most visited vacation spot, comfy cabin-in-the-mountains, or condo by-the-sea—our most defining address is your lavish, extravagant, inexhaustible love for us. So, wherever our travels take us this week, and whoever does or does not enter our “abode,” free us to abide in your love. Some of us are more certain about heaven than how this week is going to play out relationally. Relying on your love… help us, Father. Some of us will have our first Thanksgiving on this side of burying a loved one. Some of us will be in scenarios of awkward tension, others will be painfully alone. Some of us will have guests we wish were visiting elsewhere, others will feel the sadness of who isn’t sitting at our table. Father, whatever our situation, may your love be our greatest feast, abiding peace, and deepest joy. So very Amen, in Jesus’ 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