“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?”

September 17, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?" SCOTTY SMITH “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). “He (God the Father) has sent me (Jesus) to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives” (Isa. 61:1)   Dear Jesus, thank you 10 times—make that 100 times over. Bruised reeds, flickering candles, and broken hearts love it when you come near (Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20). You are full empathy, compassion, and healing grace. To suffer is to be human, but to experience healing for our heart wounds is to be yours. A song from the soundtrack of my high school years asked the question, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?” It’s an important, ponder-worthy question, that’s not asked enough. I know what I did with mine. I medicated it poorly. I tried to bandage my heart wounds with denial, disconnect, and by distancing myself from anything or anyone that threatened more pain. I was a false prophet to myself—like those you spoke about in Jeremiah’s day, who offered superficial healing to major wounds in your people, proclaiming peace when they had none to give (Jer. 6:14). Fortunately, the fragile scaffolding of my attempts at self-healing collapsed under the weight of your grace. You came near Jesus, and you haven’t left. Not content just to prepare your Bride for heaven, you bring a good measure of heart-healing that we might live before we die. By your mercy, gentleness, and kindness, I’m still in the healing journey—a process that has a most wonderful end in view (Rev. 21:1-22:6). The wounds of loss, the fear of more trauma, and the shame of … well, the shame of a lot of stuff don’t have the same power they once did. Thank you. “You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for,” for you are a most “wonderful, merciful Savior.” 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

Friending for Freedom

September 16, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Friending for Freedom SCOTTY SMITH   “Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’” John 11:43-44   Dear Jesus, I’ve pondered, prayed, and preached this text many times, but it keeps drawing me back. Probably because I’m not as free as you intend.  As surely a post-resurrection Lazarus needed to be freed from his grave clothes, so do I (we). The smells, signs, and shackles of our old life still cling, bind, and trip us up. Continue to heal and free us, Jesus.   Free us from caring too much about what people think. Criticism and rejection can devastate us. Praise and appreciation can seduce us. Anger and rage can paralyze us. May who we are in you, and what you say about us, define and delight us more than anything else. Free us from unforgiveness, resentment, and a critical spirit We have real wounds, Jesus, but your grace is greater. You’ve forgiven us everything. Therefore, loving much should come easier to us than it does. Help! Free us from our insecurities, emotional-Achilles heels, and shame. The hearts of kings and the course of history are in your hands. Surely, we can trust you with our secrets, fears, and self-contempt. Free us from unbelief—the most tenacious, freedom-robbing of all “grave-clothes.” We believe, help our unbelief. The less we rest in your love, the more our restlessness takes us to worthless idols, broken cisterns, and affairs of the heart and body. Jesus, free us for living and loving to your glory. Make us outlandishly generous with mercy, more joyful than we can imagine, and so relationally present it will shock some who know us. Indeed, just as Lazarus’ freedom required help from his friends, so will ours. Help us receive and give this kind of friendship—and receive and give it some more all the way Home. So Very Amen, we pray. 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

“If God Wishes”

September 15, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "If God Wishes" SCOTTY SMITH   “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Ps. 115:3). “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish” (Isa. 46:9-10).   Heavenly Father, these two passages will either move us to greater consternation or deeper adoration—to living with clenched fists, because we can’t control you; or to worshiping you with raised hands, because, as our Father, you do all things well, (not necessarily all things easy) Supper with two friends last night compelled me think about the times I vacillate between clenched fists (when I want control), and raised hands (when I’m glad you’re God and I’m not). We both recounted visits to African countries, and experiencing the joy and peace of your children there. They who live with so little, laugh with great ease. They who exist on the cusp of famine, plague, mortality, and malady—speak the words, “If God wishes” with reverence, acceptance, and huge smiles on their faces. They don’t view your absolute sovereignty as a slap, but as a hug—not as limiting their freedom, but guaranteeing it. I want to be more like them, Father—even when your ways contradict my preferences, timetable, and feelings. Fortunately, you’re not wistful—merely wishing things will, or would’ve worked out. You are just the opposite; for whatever you wish does happen. You do all that pleases you. Ultimately, whatever pleases you will enthrall, thrill, and over-please us. We believe this, because it “over-pleased” you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to save us, from beginning to end, by grace alone for your glory alone. 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

Practicing the Art of Jesus’ Love

September 14, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Practicing the Art of Jesus' Love SCOTTY SMITH   “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions” (Ps. 51:1). “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” (Eph. 4:32)   Heavenly Father, few things are as aromatic as the combining of humility, kindness and connection. It’s like the scent that arises from of a big pot of “grandmother-goodness,” seasoned with perfectly chosen spices—blending, simmering, filling the kitchen with allure and welcome, inviting everyone to a feast of beauty. When offender and offended get low, get gentle, and get serious about practicing the art of Jesus’ love, it is a bouquet of grace. It’s a worship service that makes angels dance and the Trinity rejoice. It’s our best evangelism and fuel for global missions—the greatest inheritance we can give our children and coming generations Father, your mercies are new every morning because we need them every day. Thank you. None of us is beyond the need or reach of your grace. For your glory and our healing, free us to live and love as Jesus loves us. Humble, soften, and gentle us. Help us get low and get serious about practicing the art of Jesus’ love. May we care 100 times more about being kind than right, and 1000 times more about you being honored than us being vindicated. So Very Amen, we pray.   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

Neither Absorb Nor Dispense Contempt and Shame

September 13, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Neither Absorb Nor Dispense Contempt and Shame SCOTTY SMITH   “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ… Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Rom. 8:31,34   Jesus, in light of our Father’s great love, your finished work, and the Spirit’s ongoing witness to our “sonship” (Rom. 8:16), how dare we listen to the voice of the accuser, slanderer, liar? The devil has lost us for eternity, but he’ll do everything he can to condemn, shame, and pillage our peace with you. He wants to keep us fragile on the inside, doubtful of your love, off-balance among people, and fearful and anxious about everything. But from the first nanosecond of our “in-Christ-ness”—ever since our Father declared us righteous in you, all condemnation for our sin is gone (Rom. 8:1). Zilch, nil, nada, naught, goose-egg, zippo judgment is left hanging over us, or awaiting us in the future. Replacing judgment, we now live in God’s permanent favor and uber-delight. Astonishing, but it’s true. Hard to believe, but it’s ours to enjoy. So contrary to our world, but it’s the only hope for our world. Jesus, by the power of your resurrection, make us 100 times more alive to your love and righteousness, than all the contempt and shame the devil and mere people leak, hurl, and vomit on us. Lastly, arrest our hearts and mouths the very moment we become tools, fools, and conduits for the devil’s disgust, disdain, and demeaning ways. You call us to bless, not curse—to bring life, not death. So Very Amen, we humbly pray.   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

Our Choice of Abode and Commitment to Abide

September 12, 2022 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Our Choice of Abode and Commitment to Abide SCOTTY SMITH “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” John 15:9   Lord Jesus, how can it be? How is it possible you love us just as much as the Father loves you? That’s exactly what you affirm in this verse. You love us to the same degree with the same delight for the same eternity as Abba, Father loves you. And thank you for commanding us to “abide” in your love—to make your love our permanent abode: Our main dwelling space, our tiny house with mercy-wheels, our Gulfstream of Grace. Even more so, we want your love to be the very air we breathe, our bread and water, the sheets between we sleep, and the clothes we wear into the boardroom, playroom, and every room. Jesus, pour the miracle-grow of your Spirit on us. It’s the only way we’ll grow a greater understanding and experience of the “length and width, height and depth” of your love (Eph. 3:18). Otherwise, we’re likely to default to abiding in other abodes that don’t give life; they take it. There’s a whole village of fears with unlocked doors welcoming us: The fears of not being enough or having enough, the fears of loss and loneliness, the fears of missing out or not being missed at all. And there’s always a new subdivision going up with plenty of anger apartments, comparison condos, brooding bungalows, criticism cottages, and residences of resentment. (Yep, it’s as bad as it sounds.) Most loving Jesus whatever you command, you resource. Rescue us from abodes than rob us, and others, of heart and life. May we abide, marinate, linger, and live in your 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