Creation Is God’s Megaphone for His Glory

May 14, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Creation Is God's Megaphone for His Glory SCOTTY SMITH   “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night-to-night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Ps. 19:1-4   Heavenly Father, having spent the past week along the stunning shoreline of Northern Ireland moves me to ask the question, yet again. How can anyone with any degree of sensory awareness and aesthetic sensibility ponder creation and not be compelled to worship you? As David says in this Psalm, the things you have made declare your glory—“declare” as in whisper and shout; put us on our faces in awe, and onto our feet to dance. In just this one small arena of your handiwork, the color green has taken on an entirely new meaning—all its hues and textures. And I saw the widest and most color-intense rainbow of my life. The scones here might even make it onto the menu of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb, and dare I suggest it, even the fish and chips? And to think… the entire earth is going to be filled with the knowledge of your glory one Day. Every place will be just as special and glorious as the next. Each hamlet, township, rural community and bustling metropolis—every square inch of creation will be liberated from decay, consumer-abuse, and environment disaster. Father, thank you for making the world for us to enjoy and steward. We so looking forward to dwelling in it forever, when it becomes the new heaven and new earth, at Jesus’ return. 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

Gospel Manna Not “Lucky Charms”

May 13, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Gospel Manna Not "Lucky Charms" SCOTTY SMITH   “Let me hear in the morning (and afternoon, and evening) of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.” Ps. 143:8   Lord Jesus, while celebrating our 50th anniversary in Northern Ireland, I’ve “upped” my breakfast game. They really know how to do a “proper breakfast.” But a breakfast of Gospel-manna impacts much more than our energy level. It shapes how think about you, see our world, and relate to others. So, taking King David’s advice, Jesus, we begin this May Friday feasting on your steadfast love. Only your love is better than life. All others loves merely enhance and decorate life. Only your love can meet our deepest needs and satisfy our greatest longings. No other love was, is, or ever will be enough. Only your love is unwavering. All other loves are filled with conditions and contingencies, “if’s” and “only’s,” fine print and expiration dates. Only your love can free us from our heart-idols, broken cisterns, fool’s gold, and unrealistic expectations of people. Only your love can heal the greatest heart-wounds we carry, and the darkest secrets we have buried. Only your love can move us from navel-gazing to kingdom living—from a life of selfishness, insecurity, and fear for an eternity of wonder, love, and praise. Jesus, this morning, afternoon, and evening too, pour your love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Continue to stun, center, and gentle us with truth and riches of the Gospel—the foundation and fountain of your matchless love. 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

Pursued, Desired, Enjoyed, His

May 12, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Pursued, Desired, Enjoyed, His SCOTTY SMITH   “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Rev. 3:20   Lord Jesus, it’s not that you’re lonely or cold, and you certainly don’t need our permission to enter any door. You truly desire fellowship with us—individually, and as whole church families. How do we get so busy, distracted, and satisfied with lesser things that we don’t even recognize when we’re no longer enjoying unrushed, heart-connecting, time with you? Thank you for constantly pursuing us, Jesus. Thank you for always initiating fellowship, communion, and nourishment with us. Your jealousy for our hearts and affection is one of the greatest compliments you could ever give us. Though we’d never presume to call you “friend,” you call us your friends (John 15:15). In fact, you’ve made us your betrothed bride—longing for the Day when a table meal becomes a Wedding Feast. Thank you for loving us this much. Though you could kick down the door, climb in through a window, or come in through the “crawl space,” you knock on the portal of our heart each day. Daily mercies, Gospel-manna, living water, your very self… that’s what you give us. This life of faith isn’t about us making you a “priority,” or us making you anything. It’s about you making us yours—by your life, death, and resurrection. Convicted, humbled, and grateful, we welcome you in, Jesus. 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

Not a Hammock or Recliner, but His Throne

May 11, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Not a Hammock or Recliner, but His Throne SCOTTY SMITH   “(Jesus) has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.” 1 Pet. 3:22   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, though it doesn’t get the “press” and fanfare of your birth and resurrection, your ascension is a most peace-giving, hope-fueling reality. Forty days after your resurrection, you ascended to the right hand of our Father. You didn’t fall into a hammock, or sit back in a recliner, but you climbed onto your throne. You are actively… Making all things new (Rev. 1:5) Interceding for us constantly (Heb. 7:25) Working in all things for our good (Rom. 8:28) Ruling over every king on the earth (Rev. 1:4b-6) Putting all your enemies under your feet (1 Cor. 15:25) And, Jesus, the day deacon-Stephen became a Gospel-martyr, you gave us one of the most worship-fueling images of your constant care for us (Acts 7). As he was being stoned, Stephen saw you “standing at the right hand of God.” Whatever our crisis, fear, or threat, you are with us and for us. Whether you deliver us from peril or into heaven, give us suffering-grace or the grace to wait in hope… you are good, you are loving, you are Lord… all the time. Hallelujah, and 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

Well-Timed Thorn-Shaped Grace

May 10, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Well-Timed Thorn-Shaped Grace SCOTTY SMITH “Each time (Paul asked God to remove his “thorn in the flesh”) he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me”. 2 Cor. 12:9   Heavenly Father, what a great verse to sit in the rest of May. Though Paul really wanted to be thorn-free, you answered his prayer with the gift of sufficient grace. You haven’t promised any of us a thornless life before we enter the new heaven and new earth. However, you have promised we’ll never experience a graceless, Christ-absent day. Thank you. For our “thorns in the flesh”: Grant us grace to accept the inconvenient, painful, freedom-limiting things going on in our bodies. Reveal your power through our physical weakness, and increase our compassion for fellow sufferers. For our “burrs in the saddle”: Father, some of us are dealing with irritating people and aggravating circumstances. Give us bigger hearts and thicker skins, wisdom from above and grace on the ground. For our “punches in the gut”: Some of us are reeling from fresh disappointments, betrayals, or losses. Thank you for being a “Father of compassion and God of all comfort.” Help us catch our breath, gain perspective, and experience your calming, centering presence. For our “arrows to the heart”: Nothing hurts as much as relational pain. Father, grant us the grace we need to love well in messy, complex situations. May your great love for us in Jesus be 10 times more real than the sadness we experience in our hardest relationships. Thank you, Father, and 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

We’re All Self-Talkers

May 9, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We're All Self-Talkers SCOTTY SMITH “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5   Dear Father, none of us wants to become old and lonely, mumbling to ourselves out loud, as we amble along through our last days. But the truth is, we’re always talking to ourselves, with words no one can hear. Some of us talk contemptuously to ourselves—heaping on blame, shame, and vain regrets. Some of us carry on a boring, self-focused monologue—reminding ourselves of what we deserve, lamenting how few people really “get” us, and planning ways to get even or get more. But as your children, we are all called to address ourselves like King David did in Psalm 62. You promise a rest you alone can provide. You give a hope only you can guarantee. So, on this Monday in May, we say to ourselves… “Anxious self, find your calm in Jesus, alone. Take your restlessness to the One who gave you birth and new birth. Surely you can trust him who gave you a new heart and his perfect record. Jesus won your peace, and is your peace. He is at work, right now, in all things for your good.” “Vulnerable heart, don’t plug your “joy-cord” into mere people. Don’t hitch your fulfillment-wagon to burros without legs. Only your Father knows you thoroughly, and loves you totally. He is all you need, and you really are his.” “Angry me, how much energy are you wasting blaming, “should-ing,” and resenting? You’re acting like a spiritual orphan, like you don’t actually have a heavenly Father who loves and cares for you. Get back home.” 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