Merry Christmas, Y’all!

December 25, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Merry Christmas, Y'all! SCOTTY SMITH   “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:11 Lord Jesus, it’s the event that caused angels to “hark,” shepherds to hurry, Maji to travel, and Herod to tremble. God loved the world so much, he gave us you—our perfect Savior, promised Messiah, and reigning Lord. Our joy is great, our peace is deep, and our hope is alive. More than air and water, a “do-over” or a different anything, we needed you—a Savior. You are Immanuel—God with us and God for us. You are the Lamb of God, who has taken away our sins. The Lord of Lords, ruling over crawdads, crucibles, and kingdoms. The Lamp of the New City (Rev. 21:23), the guarantee and glory of our coming life in the new heaven and new earth. In you we have complete forgiveness, perfect righteousness, and our Father’s favor. You are the resolution of all our fears, our perfect peace in a perfectly broken world, and the fulfiller of our oldest, deepest hopes. Adore you, indeed! Until the very second of your second coming, you care for us with tenacious tenderness and inexhaustible grace. History isn’t random, it’s your relentless commitment to redeem your every-nation Bride, eradicate all evil, and make all things new. Hallelujah… everything broken has an expiration date, and everything beautiful has an arrival date. Jesus, until that Day, we want to love, enjoy, and serve you with everything we have and are. 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

On Christmas Eve 2021

December 24, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH On Christmas Eve 2021 SCOTTY SMITH   “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (Gal. 4:5-6) Lord Jesus, even if our calendars have it wrong, you came at “the set time,” the perfect month and day—the moment prescribed before you created the world. Not a metaphor, myth, or mere model—you are God incarnate, our perfect Savior, our reigning King. Other kings would’ve come with fanfare and flash to impress; you came in humility and sacrifice to save. Other kings were first a baby. You were first the King, then an infant. Your glory was hidden in Mary’s womb, but not diminished. Though you fill all things, you emptied yourself for us.   As the Last Adam, you fulfilled the law for us. As the Lamb of God, you bore our sin, taking our judgment. As the Grave Robber, you conquered death and rose to give us life. As the Lord of Lords, you are sovereign over kings, people, and places. As our Great High Priest, you advocate, care, and pray for us constantly. As our Loving Bridegroom, you are coming back for us with great delight. As the Grace Giver, you take on “the hopes and fears of all the years” (ours too!)   We praise, bless, and adore you, Lord Jesus. You have come, you are with us and for us, and you are coming again. So very Hallelujah, 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

We Are All Favor Cravers

December 23, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Are All Favor Cravers SCOTTY SMITH   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests”… The shepherds, “hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:13–14, 17   Heavenly Father, as we pray out way though the familiar scene of harking angels and scurrying shepherds, we confess our unbelief, and our longings. This one phrase—“on whom his favor rests,” stops us in our tracks, takes our breath away, beggars our imagination. Is it really true, Father? Can we be certain? Is this really why you sent Jesus into a virgin’s womb, then into our world through a birthing room of straw, animals, and love? Was this always your plan—made in eternity, accomplished in the fullness of time, beginning in the little town of Bethlehem? You respond to all these questions in the pages of your Word, with unfiltered heavenly-Fatherly love, and a resounding declaration of “Yes!” Jesus is the “Yes” to every promise you have made for our redemption (2 Cor. 1:20). You loved us so much you gave us Jesus. And because you did, anyone and everyone who believes in him has (now will have) eternal life. And what is eternal life? Not just living forever in the perfection of heaven. But living right now in the certainly, fullness, and riches of your favor—all the rights and delights of being your beloved children. That’s the part that gets us, Father. For some of us, (maybe most of us), it’s easier to believe we’ll go to heaven when we die, than believe you actually love us right now as much as you love Jesus. But you do, Father, you really do. The “peace on earth” you intend for us is to come more fully alive to your favor—your unwavering love, non-stop desire for us, and total delight in us. A spouse, children, grandchildren, lover, friends, boss and do us favors, but only you can give us favor—your favor. Hallelujah, in Jesus you have! 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

A Garden of Grace

December 22, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Garden of Grace SCOTTY SMITH   “He (the Messiah–Jesus) grew up before him like “tender shoot” (young plant), and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him… He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” Isa. 53:1–4   Lord Jesus, Isaiah’s prophecy of your incarnation makes singing “O, Holy Night,” most appropriate in this moment. His imagery makes your manger seems like a “garden of grace.” Though you created the world, you are the “tender shoot” of Isaiah’s vision—the “root” our Father planted in the arid, angry soil of our world. And what a price you paid. You created beauty, yet you became the one with “no beauty.” You took the ugliness of our sin, that we might become pure and beautiful in you. You became the despised, non-esteemed one, that we enjoy our Father’s welcome and live as the children of his delight. You are the fountain of pleasures, your laughter fills heaven, and your joy is now our strength. Yet, you became the man of great sorrows and inconsolable suffering… all for us. In taking up your cross, you took up our infirmities, grief, sin, and sorrows. You bore our guilt and exhausted our judgment. Your once-and-for-all affliction has placed us in our Father’s eternal, unwavering affection. Jesus, Oh, to esteem and love you as you deserve. By your Spirit, let it be. May your tenderness grow in our hearts, and your compassion and kindness overflow to our families, friends, and neighbors. 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

Treasuring Jesus’ Crib, Cross, and Crown

December 21, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Treasuring Jesus' Crib, Cross, and Crown SCOTTY SMITH   “Jesus Christ… who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” Rev. 1:5-6   Lord Jesus, in just a few days Advent will “deliver” Christmas—the day we celebrate Mary’s labor of love, and the inauguration of yours. Loudly we sing, “Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.” We praise, bless, and adore you. As we ponder the manger this year, grant us a simultaneous sighting of your crib, cross, and crown. You weren’t just Mary’s firstborn child, but also the “firstborn from the dead.” Your death on the cross guarantees the death of death itself; and your resurrection guarantees ours. Hallelujah! You have already “freed us from our sins.” We neither fear condemnation (Rom. 8:1, nor doubt our acceptance (Rom. 15:7)—for you are the one “who loves us.” You. Love. Us. You love us as much as the Father loves you—right now, full bore, no wavering or take-backs. Jesus, you are already “the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Because your Kingdom has come in part, and is coming in fullness, may we live with much less fear, and way more hope, love, and engagement in your commitment to make all things new. With herald angels we hark, “Glory to the newborn (reigning, and returning) King!” 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

Charlie Brown and “Currier and Ives”

December 20, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Charlie Brown and "Currier and Ives" SCOTTY SMITH   “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6) Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Prov. 17:1); “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! But only one thing really matters, and Mary chose it.” (Luke 10:41-42)      Lord Jesus, it’s Monday of “Christmas week.”  With much yet to be done, help us chose Mary’s posture over Martha’s frenzy. Be our portion and treasure—the focus of our gaze and the joy of our hearts. For you aren’t just the “reason-for-the-season,” but the very meaning, center, and joy of our existence. May your welcoming, kind, gracious heart permeate our hearts. Grant us mercy for our prodigals, grace in our brokenness, and compassion for one and all alike. Jesus, as quietly as you came into our world, bring your gentling presence into this week. May “good news of great joy” trump every other storyline we’d write for this week. We’ve made our plans; but gladly, we say, “Have your way, Jesus.” The Gospel is always more messy, fun, and beautiful than anything we can pull off. If our family picture looks more like a “Charlie Brown Christmas” than a “Currier and Ives” photo shoot… as long as you are there, Hallelujah, and so be it. Jesus, you came to serve us, from your manger to the cross—and now from your throne of grace. May we find great joy this week in serving whoever is in front of us. Free us from every “need” for anybody or anything to be different. 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