Loved and Still Pursued by Our Father

January 8, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Loved and Still Pursued by Our Father SCOTTY SMITH   The LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” Gen. 3:9   Heavenly Father, thank you. You never get bored or irritated with us. You never have second thoughts or regrets about creating and redeeming us—as though you didn’t anticipate how much we will need your grace until the day you will take us Home. Because you love us, you discipline us as your children; but you no longer relate to us as our Judge. The Gospel took care of that. When you saved us, you didn’t put us on probation for a trial period, you hid our lives in Christ for eternity. Again, we say thank you. Today on this Saturday morning, you ask each of your beloved children the same question you asked your son, Adam, “Where are you?” You never ask a question to be informed. You know where we are—geographically, spiritually, emotionally, and every other way. We’re the ones who need to be honest about where we are, and where we are heading early in this new year. As your children, we are more in Christ than we are anywhere else, and yet… You know some of us are like Adam, hiding in fear; or like Jonah, running in anger; or like Job, writhing in weariness; or like David, flirting with disaster. Or like the younger son—shamed, fragile, and planning our penance (Luke 15:17-19); or like the older son—cold, harsh, grace-less, and kind-less (Lk. 15:25-32). Where are we? Show us Father. You have a great history of pursuing, finding, welcoming, and restoring your children. Again, thank you. 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 Have This Hope

January 7, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Have This Hope SCOTTY SMITH   “There were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he (Jesus) will reign for ever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God. Rev. 11:15-16   Lord Jesus, thank you for a heating system that is purring away, as it’s 11 degrees this morning in Franklin, TN. I also have a six-inch “blanket” covering my backyard, making me grateful for the “white as snow” state of grace we have in you. Forgiven, declared righteous, loved, yours… what a great way to start our new year. I’m also tired, but hope-soaked. Tired, because of having just finished teaching a 4-day Jan-Term class for Covenant Seminary. Hope-soaked because of what we immersed ourselves in for 26 hours—the Gospel of your transforming grace. Good news for us individually, but also good news for the entire cosmos. How sweet (understatement) it was to finish our class seeing, sensing, savoring what the Apostle John saw, as recorded in Revelation. Lord Jesus, your “for–ever-and-ever” reign has already begun. Hallelujah! Raised, ascended, enthroned—you are actively growing your mustard-seed kingdom, redeeming your every-nation bride, and making all things new (Rev. 21:5). Our last day of class, January 6th, gave us a fitting reminder of how ready we are for your return, and the fullness of your kingdom on earth. Our great hope is that nothing has been left to chance, but all things to you (Heb. 1:2). We join the 24 elders in a grace face-plant of adoring love, peace, and anticipation. 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 Kind People in a Cancel Culture

January 6, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Kind People in a Cancel Culture SCOTTY SMITH “When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…” (Tit. 3:4-6); “The kindness of God leads you to repentance…” (Rom. 2:4); “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Col. 3:12   Heavenly Father, thank you for being relentlessly kind, gentle, and patient with us. By your kindness, you exposed the depth of our need, and revealed Jesus as our singular hope. You saved us. Hallelujah, you saved us—not by anything we have done, but by what Jesus accomplished for us, once and for all. We now live in a perpetual state of your kindness—your unwavering disposition of welcome, affection, and faithfulness. It’s unlike any other relationship we’ve ever known, and that’s why we still have our doubts, rounds, and bouts with unbelief. So, on this January 6th 2022, we repent. First and foremost, we repent of not believing you love us as much as you say you do (Eph. 3:18-19). Continue to free us from under-believing the Gospel. Our unbelief robs you of glory, and people all around us pay the price of our unbelief. Indeed, we repent of hoarding your grace, and not sharing it. You canceled our sin, not us. You don’t merely “put up with us,” you put us “in Christ.” You continue to use kindness (not harshness) to lead us to repentance. Where do we think our judging, carping, shaming, and blaming will lead others? Kind Father, help us discharge our grace-filled “debt of love” (Rom. 13:8). 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

Belonging, Desired, Loved

January 5, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Belonging, Desired, Loved SCOTTY SMITH “I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.” (Song of Songs 7:10); “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Heb. 12:2); “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! Look, he is coming…” (Rev. 1:5-7)   Lord Jesus, here’s to heart-filled, gaze-locked, grace-paced 2022. Whether we’ve known you 15 days, 15 years, or 5 decades—we want to know, love, and serve you with greater joy, peace, and hope than ever. By your Spirit, do this work in our hearts, Jesus. Restore the joy of our salvation, the delight of our first-love, the clarity of our first-sighting of you. Because all kinds of “suitors” vie for our gaze, heart, and trust. Like Samson looking to Delilah for satisfaction, Israel looking to Egypt for protection (Isaiah 31:1), Esau choosing soup-in-hand over an-inheritance-to come (Heb. 12:16); Diotrephes loving to be first, more than he craved anything else (3 John 1:9)—we too, are weak, temptable, vulnerable, and foolish. But no idol, lover, earthly riches, or place in an org-chart died to save us. Only you have, Lord Jesus. Thank you, and Hallelujah! Only you are worthy of our adoration, affection, attention, and allegiance. So, come, Lord, come. Do beyond all we can ask or imagine in 2022—in us and through us. 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

Partners with Our Father

January 4, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Partners with Our Father SCOTTY SMITH   “I thank my God every time I remember you… I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:3-6   Heavenly Father, as 2022 unfolds, eternity-thinking, love-fueling, grace-channeling relationships are going to be essential. Like Paul, we remain grateful for our “partners in the Gospel”—friends with whom we share a daily (hourly) need for the grace of the Gospel. What would we do without friends who need Jesus just as much as us? We are also thankful for those with whom we partner in the work of the Gospel—locally and globally. It’s a gift to have friends who think like this: “Jesus is returning to finish making all things new—maybe in our lifetime. How shall we invest our energy, remaining days, and money?” Father, this way of thinking and living makes total sense, and gives unparalleled peace. Because you are committed to finish the work of the Gospel in us (Phil. 1:6), and throughout creation (Rev. 21:1-5). The earth will be filled with your glory one Day, and the new earth will be populated with your every-nation family. Hallelujah! So, to partner in the Gospel is to partner with you in what you declare to be the true meaning, guaranteed end, and greatest delight of all of history. This surely makes reframing, refocusing, refueling, and reengaging a lot more meaningful than simply retiring. 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

Seeing As Jesus Intends

January 3, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Seeing As Jesus Intends SCOTTY SMITH   “Can you see anything now?” (Jesus asked him.) The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around. ”Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. Mark 8:23-25   Lord Jesus, this story is precious to us, for many reasons. It highlights that healing is usually a process, and that we will need you until the day you take us Home. It also underscores how compassionate, patient, and kind you are. Thank you. We begin 2022 asking for heart-vision correction, because we need it. We want to see everything from the perspective of your heart, grace, and eternity.    Help us look at people through Gospel-eyes. Everyone we encounter is made in your image. But they also bare stories, scars, and struggles about which we are clueless. Help us see what you see in our family members, friends, co-workers, and strangers.    Help us see money, time, and our talents as the currency of grace. Wise planning is one thing, but living a life of “affluenza,” greed-fear, and gold-trust is empty and heart-corroding. Free us for greater generosity in 2022.    Lastly, Jesus, free us to see our coming life in the new heaven and new earth more clearly than ever. The Apostle John saw it, and fell down in astonishment, worship, and joy (Rev.19:9-10; 22:8-10). And got up to serve you fearlessly and faithfully until you took him Home. May it be so with us, Jesus. 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