When Our Body Language Speaks in “Unholy Tongues”

March 25, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When Our Body Language Speaks in "Unholy Tongues" SCOTTY SMITH   “Do everything without grumbling or a contentious spirit...” (Phil. 2:14); “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...” (Col. 3:15); “God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” (1 Cor. 1:9).   Lord Jesus, when a toddler gets “turned sideways,” whiney, cranky, and not fun to be with, we often assess the situation as a missed nap, possible low-grade temperature, “just being a toddler,” or crashing after a sugar high. And, most definitely, it’s an early confirmation that every child came into the world needing you and the Gospel. But when we adults, who already know you, drift, fall, jump, or settle into “grumbling” and “a contentious spirit”—there are precipitating factors and triggers, for sure. Time out and a nap might actually be quite helpful. However, just yesterday, as my body language began to speak in “unholy tongues,” and I felt knottier, more rigid, grumbly, and irritated in my spirit, you graciously reminded me, more than a nap, I need you—all the time. If I don’t guard my heart—feed, nourish, protect it (Prov. 4:23), any of a number of things will rule there (Prov. 23:26). If I forget (or ignore) my calling to daily fellowship with you and our faithful Father, I’ll “fellowship” with my critical spirit, sense of entitlement, fears, self-pity, war news, “what if’s,” “if only’s” and the list goes on. So, on this March Friday, I am thankful for new mercies, your kind welcome, and sufficient grace. I’m not going to beat myself up about yesterday, or make vain promises about tomorrow. Come, Jesus, and may your peace rule in my heart this one day. So Very Amen.     Wish you had a 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

Mercy, Manna, and Maggots

March 24, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Mercy, Manna, and Maggots SCOTTY SMITH   “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity.”  2 Cor. 8:1-2   Heavenly Father, What an amazing story—the severely afflicted, economically strapped Macedonians became a model of kingdom joy and radical generosity. We are seeing this same kind of generous living and giving, in response to the war in Ukraine. Much more will be needed for years to come. Hearts and homes are welcoming displaced strangers. Checks are being cut. Containers are being sent. Children are being cared for. The Gospel is being shared, in both word and deed. You are being glorified. What more could we want in life? Father, grant us the same grace and freedom, you gave the churches of Macedonia. You have enriched us in every way that we might be generous in every way (2 Cor. 9:11). Jesus, himself, was/is the quintessential cheerful giver. Though he was eternally rich, Jesus gladly became poor, that by his poverty we might become enriched beyond measure (2 Cor. 8:9). Wise planning and prudent saving are one thing. But me-first, mercy-little, fear-fueled stockpiling is altogether different. You didn’t create and redeem us to be hoarders, but givers. Manna, the “daily bread” you gave the Israelites, became a smelly maggot-feast if hoarded (Exodus 16:19-20). (Yech!). We prefer the aroma of grace, so supersize our joy and generosity in these moments, and coming years. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a 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

Fasting Our Selfishness and Political Correctness

March 23, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Fasting Our Selfishness and Political Correctness SCOTTY SMITH “Isn’t this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to break the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Isn’t it to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them?” (Isaiah 58:6-7)   Lord Jesus, one of the benefits of being an aging “Baby Boomer” is remembering when some words that are now “radioactive” with alarm used to be redemptively sweet. Tears of joy streamed down my face the first time I sang Charles Wesley’s hymn, “And Can It Be?” “Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, should die for me (even me, Scotty Ward Smith)!” But now when I sing that hymn, I get a little triggered, when I this string of Gospel-soaked phrases … “I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth and followed Thee.” Jesus, my first experience of the now “four-letter word”—“woke” was all about waking up to every good thing we have in you. This includes (hallelujah) freedom from sin, death, and judgment; and, also, freedom for a life of knowing, loving, and following you. Where does following you take us? Into a life of sharing the Gospel of your saving grace, breaking chains of injustice, sharing our food with the hungry, sheltering and clothing the roofless and shirtless. This kind of “awake-ness,” love, and “fasting” (Isa. 58:6-7) is happening in abundance in Ukraine, Russia, and bordering countries right now (hallelujah). Multiply it, Jesus, and help us fast our own selfishness and political correctness. So Very Amen. Wish you had a 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

Does Jesus Care? O, How He Does!

March 22, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Does Jesus Care? O, How He Does! SCOTTY SMITH   Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55–56   Lord Jesus, this scene from Stephen’s life underscores your tender, tenacious, triumphant commitment to care for us in every season of life—even when circumstances seem to contradict your mercy and might. As stones pelted his body, Stephen saw you standing at the Father’s right hand. You delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel’s 3 friends) from the Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. You delivered Stephen through his “fiery” ordeal into your eternal, glorious presence. You are always present, always good, always sovereign—ALWAYS. We begin our prayer today praying for the persecuted church, and for those serving you in hostile, dangerous environments. We especially think of your beloved Bride in Ukraine and Russia. Protect them from all evil and harm, or bring them to yourself through the horrors we are observing. Jesus, whatever your sovereign will is, make yourself palpably near, real, and dear to your people. And bring 10,000 times 10,000 others to salvation through the devil’s foolish attempt to destroy your church and the witness of the Gospel. Because the Gospel is true, and circumstances, “accidents,” or diseases labeled “terminal” are really “transitional.” For we have already passed from death to life, and from judgment for our sin to favor with our God. Hallelujah, so many times over. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a 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

Dressed to Love and Serve

March 21, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Dressed to Love and Serve SCOTTY SMITH “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other… Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col. 3:12-13   Lord Jesus, some of us are starting our work-week at the office, in a health clinic, in front of our laptop, or waiting to board a plane. Others have just begun a vacation, workout, fishing trip, sourdough bread-baking, mission trip, or a sabbatical. In each setting, we dress accordingly. Scrubs, jeans, business casual, fly-fishing vest, tie-and-coat, apron, cutoffs… we choose our “threads” appropriate the next thing. But every day this week—no matter our calling or context, stress level or workload, fears or joys… may we take the Apostle Paul’s “Gospel dress code” to heart (quite literally). No matter our vocation, our primary calling is to live as those who belong to you—seen, known, and desired. Jesus, by your finished work, we are “chosen” (not choice or full of potential), “holy” (set apart by you for you), and “dearly loved”—not “kinda liked.” May your relationship with us, and our standing in grace, define us more than anything else, today and every day. As for our “clothing” choices, thank you that these grace-garments never go out of style, need altering, replacing, or updating…   Compassion Kindness Humility Gentleness Patience Forbearance Forgiveness   Lord Jesus, these 7 expressions of your grace capture how you relate to us every second, every day, of every week, month, and year. How humbling, freeing, and transforming. As we are loved, so may we love one another all this weeklong. So Very Amen. Wish you had a 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 Trust As Deep As the Ocean of Grace

March 20, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Trust As Deep As the Ocean of Grace SCOTTY SMITH “All commended for their faith...” Heb. 11:39 Heavenly Father, the ongoing evil in Ukraine (and other parts of the world) have convinced me afresh of this: Life in Christ, under your sovereign rule, between the resurrection and return of Jesus, requires (1) A relationship with you only the Gospel can give us. (2) A trust in you as deep as the ocean of your grace. (3) A heart to accept both the mystery of your hidden ways, and the miraculous intervention of your mighty hand. Because, as the writer of Hebrews stated, sometimes your people “through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised.” They “shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword… routed foreign armies… women received back their dead, raised to life again” (Heb.11:32-35a). Other times, they “were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.” And here’s the mystery as big as the Gospel is good: “These were ALL commended for their faith…” Heb.11:35b-39). All commended for their faith—those who shut lions’ mouths, and those who entered heaven by stoning. Father never let us forget: Faith unites us to Jesus, who is working in all things for your glory and our good, not to formulas for self-preservation. We are ready for this war to be over and for Jesus to return. But until then, grant us a growing measure of (1), (2), (3) listed above. We love you, Father. We would trust you more. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a 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