Where Are My Keys and Hope?

February 5, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Where Are My Keys and Hope? SCOTTY SMITH “I have the keys…” Rev. 1:18   Lord Jesus, I’m not far from buying one of those little chips to put on my key fob, so I can locate it with my iPhone. But I might have to get one to put on my iPhone too, to locate it with my laptop. I’ll stop the commentary on misplaced things right there, because of the great peace and joy filling my heart this morning. Right in the middle of misplaced things, uncertain outcomes, and a predictably unpredictable world, you speak these three words deep into our hearts. “I have the keys.” Thank you, Jesus. The keys that matter most are not in a teenager’s hand, misplaced, or stolen. They are as surely and securely in your hand as we are (John 10:28-30). We don’t have to fear getting older or the next global “whatever,” economic uncertainty or relational instability, the unknowns of dying and the knowns of living. You have the keys, Jesus—sovereignty and power over life and death; “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). The implications of this assurance are measureless, peace-giving, and hope-fueling. History isn’t in the hands of a “pinball wizard,” Tolkien’s “Sauron,” any of a number of Antichrists, whoever has the most nuclear warheads, or the one occupying the Oval Office. History is your storyboard of redemption. You have the keys, Jesus, and you’re “driving” us—your every-nation Bride, all the way into the new heaven and new earth. Hallelujah, and thank you, Lord 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

Come Shepherd My Heart, Jesus

February 4, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Come Shepherd My Heart, Jesus SCOTTY SMITH   “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:1-2   Lord Jesus, come and make me lie down in green pastures of grace, for I have a restless, wandering heart. Take me along, and into the quieting waters of the Gospel. Grant me, and my friends, refreshment that isn’t be found in changed circumstances, only in a compassionate Shepherd. As your lambs, none of us lack anything essential. But I need you to help me sort through my feelings. Shepherd my heart, Jesus. I feel vulnerable. I’d love control over outcomes, pain, and disappointments. I’d be a total mess if I didn’t believe you’re at work in all things for our good (Rm. 8:28). Your sovereignty is my sanity, even though I whine about your timetable. I feel sad. Some of its godly grief over the “cannibalism” I see among believers—lambs with fangs, biting and devouring one another (Gal. 5:15). It’s not “high time” we “played nice.” It’s a critical time we live as yours—loving as you love us. I feel angry—not angry at someone, more like an undercurrent of resentment and irritation. Probably 87% of it (conservative guess) is generated by my selfishness, idol of control, and fear. I feel loved. If I wasn’t certain of your love for me, Jesus, I would medicate my pain foolishly. I’d get in and stay stuck in a cycle of seething and blaming others. I want neither. I want you, Jesus. Come shepherd my heart. 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

Showing-Up Without Shaming-Down

February 3, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Showing-Up Without Shaming-Down SCOTTY SMITH “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Eph. 4:31-32   Lord Jesus, thank you. Unlike me, you never get rigid, and grate on the inside. You never roll your eyes in disgust. You never weaponize being inconvenienced and disappointed. You never resort to asking—much less thinking, “Are you ever going to get it?” “Didn’t I tell you so?” “Why can’t you be like…?” It’s not that you give us “a pass” on stuff we need to deal with, or the ways we act out in foolish and destructive ways. But Jesus, you know how to convict us without condemning us—how to correct our hearts without crushing our spirits. You “show-up” without “shaming-down,” for you have born our guilt and shame on the cross. Thank you… Thank you for remaining kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving when we deserve the opposite, Jesus. One Day we will be this loving, for we will be like you (1 John 3:1-3). Please import some of that Day, into this one. Some of us are dealing with “repeat offenders”—and our patience and kindness are gone. Some of us are dealing with new crises we saw coming, and no one listened to us. Some of us are on the giving end—the ones who have made life painful and difficult for people we love. Bring your heart and hand to bear, merciful and mighty, Lord Jesus. “We need Thee every hour,” including this one. 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

Hydration by Gospel-Libation

February 2, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Hydration by Gospel-Libation SCOTTY SMITH “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”  Rev. 22:17   Lord Jesus, will Punxsutawney Phil get it right today—Groundhog Day 2022? Will Spring come early this year? No matter how that turns out, the “Spring” we crave the most is your return—the eternal end of “Winter.” In 6 weeks or less would be just fine with us. But until that Day, we’re grateful the last command you left us with in your Word is, “Come thirsty ones come. Come drink the free water of life—the living waters of my grace.” Your kindness and care are incomparable. We bring our thirsty selves to you, Jesus. In fact, we ask you intensify our thirst to know you better and love you more. Indeed, don’t lower our desire, increase it 10-fold. Lest we reach for some beverage that will only temporally gratify, numb our pain, or artificially gladden us. Satisfy us with the Gospel-libation of your everlasting love, abiding peace, and deep heart-hope. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Jesus. Hydrate us with your grace. Train our palate for the “new wine” of your kingdom and kindness. We crave the Day when this, your promise, will be gloriously fulfilled. “I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom” (Matt. 26:29). Oh Jesus… hallelujah… that’s our Wedding Day. Come soon, Lord. 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

Nothing Could Be Finer

February 1, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Nothing Could Be Finer SCOTTY SMITH “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16); “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty.” (Ps. 90:10); “Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Lk 12:7); “You are free… live as God’s servant.“ (1 Pet. 2:16)      Lord Jesus, these 4 phrases… “Days ordained for me,” ”Fear not,” “You are of more value,” “You are free”… they are heavenly nectar, heart-peace, and deep joy to me, on this, my 72nd birthday. What freedom—your heart and hand number our days. Providence, not happenstances is writing our stories. This doesn’t make us fatalists. It means we’re yours. Bought, beloved, and bound for a life of “all things new” in the new heaven and new earth. Nothing can snatch us from your hand, or separate us from your love, or alter your plan for the cosmos. Jesus, I don’t know if I’m in my last decade, year, or month. But I do know the Gospel has never been sweeter and more real to me. I actually feel better at 72 than I did at 52. Thank you, Lord. Fill the rest of my days with childlike-wonder, massive gratitude, Kingdom kindness, and a tenacious zeal to live, love, and serve to your glory. Thank you for my family, and for Gospel-loving, eternity-thinking, mutually-encouraging friends. Keep making your empty tomb, occupied throne, and sure return more real to us than anything else. Everything else will take care of itself. 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

Go on a Spending Spree with God’s Grace This Week

January 31, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Go on a Spending Spree with God's Grace This Week SCOTTY SMITH “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace God gave the Macedonians…” 2 Cor. 8:1ff.   Heavenly Father, the story behind this 1/2-verse underscores why we can never over-emphasize your grace. For your grace isn’t a “something,” but a Someone—your beloved Son. Jesus is grace-incarnate. What an amazing story Paul gives us 2 Corinthians 8. The hard-life, “dirt-poor” Macedonians became a model of generous living and giving. Guilt, fear and legalism can’t generate that kind of freedom and joy. Generosity finds its roots and wings in the Gospel—in Jesus himself. Though eternally rich, Jesus became immeasurably “poor.” He did so to enrich us in ways that make real estate, big money, and a “cushy retirement” seem like “chump change.” Father, grant us the same grace and freedom, you gave the churches of Macedonia. By the Gospel you have enriched us in every way that we might be generous in every way—with currency and kindness (2 Cor. 9:11). Here are just five of the ways we want to spend and invest your “deep-pocket grace” this week. (1) Help us remember our “eye-log” will be a bigger issue this week than anybody else’s “eye-speck.” (2) Free us to be 3 times quicker at overlooking and  encouraging, than criticizing and blaming (3) When conflict is necessary or “just happens,” may we stay present lovingly, and receive feedback non-defensively. (4) Give us joy in spending a chunk of grace-bullion on changes we don’t like, and people we’d like to change. (5) Free us to splurge with your grace, giving others big gifts of a kind-presence, heart-listening, and quick repentances. Thank you, Father. 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