When Bitterness Is Beginning to Taste Sweet

April 29, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When Bitterness Is Beginning to Taste Sweet SCOTTY SMITH   “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32). “Resentment kills a fool” (Job 5:2). “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” (Heb. 12:15)   Heavenly Father, like biting into unripe persimmons, or the bitter taste of pecan shell tannins that find their way into an otherwise delicious “pee-con” pie, or picking and munching on “unadorned” kale… some things immediately generate a “scrunched-up-face” expression, and compel us to spit out the intruders asap. Father, give us Gospel-tastebuds. Make some things intolerably bitter to us–things that are beginning to taste dangerously and deceptively sweet… like resentment, seething, nursing grudges, getting even, And make other things irresistibly sweet to us—attitudes that, right now, potentially generate a gag-reflex… like empathy, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness. Thank you, Abba… you don’t violate our sensibilities, but you are always calling us to yourself—like you did with Jonah, Jeremiah, Job, and Joseph in very difficult chapters in their stories. We don’t want our pain to open the door to a band of vengeful marauders, bent on pillaging our peace, joy, and hope. Father, as you have forgiven us in Jesus, and love us as you alone can…  help us, free us, gentle us. Make the Gospel more defining than our hurts and sweeter than revenge. Write stories of redemption and restoration, with the pen of our hurt and the ink of your grace. So Very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Not Mere Data Recall, but Meditative Contemplation

April 28, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Not Mere Data Recall, but Meditative Contemplation SCOTTY SMITH   “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom.12:2). “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about (ponder, marinate in, reflect upon) such things” (Phil. 4:8).   Dear Jesus, nothing is more formative to our lives than our thinking—not mere data recall, but meditative contemplation. Our emotions and choices are all connected to whatever we consider true, good, and beautiful. So, before the distractions of the day, the lies of the devil and world, or the idols of our hearts claim our thinking, we set our gaze on you, Lord. For nothing and no one is more “excellent and praiseworthy” than you, Jesus. As our perfect Savior, may your mercy and grace humble and gladden our hearts today. As our returning Bridegroom, may your passion and love for us compel us to cry out with assurance and astonishment, “I belong to my Beloved and his desire is for me” (Song of Songs 7:10). No love or relationship can match or replace you, Jesus. As our peerless King, may your present reign and the fullness of your Kingdom deepen our peace and fuel our hope. Jesus, sabotage our fears and calm our anxieties. As our great High Priest, free us to come boldly, shamelessly, and often to your throne of grace. We will never shock you with our brokenness or disappoint you with our weakness, Jesus. Be the most unavoidable, magnetic, heart-gladdening reality in our lives. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Only One Love Is Better Than Life

April 27, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Only One Love Is Better Than Life SCOTTY SMITH   Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”  Psalm 118:1-4   Heavenly Father, there’s a bunch of stuff in life for which we crave termination, expiration, extinction—even annihilation. At the top of that list we put evil, death, and sin. But we’re “shouting-happy” that there’s one thing that will never change or end. On this April Thursday, we join the loud, triumphant, grateful declaration of this Psalm: “Your love, O Lord, endures forever.” Hallelujah! The most certain, stable, valuable, unwavering, inexhaustible reality in our lives is your love. Never deserved or earned, and now we can’t reduce it lose it. In terms of the quantity of your love, we live under the Niagara Falls of your affection, flowing from the bottomless ocean of your grace. In terms of its reliability, your love is more on time than the rising sun, Swiss Trains, and monthly bills. In terms of your love’s quality, you love each of your children with the same delight and to the same degree you love Jesus. For you have made Jesus’ righteousness ours and hidden our lives in his. In terms of endurability, you will cease to be God before you lessen, lose, or start putting conditions on your love for us. It terms of your love’s power to satisfy and fill us up, no “perfect” spouse or marriage, quiver of adoring children, or colony of BFF’s (best friends forever)—none of these are more than a hint, whisper, and taste of your great love for us. 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 ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

“Too-Much-Ness,” Tenderness, and Team-Love

April 26, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "Too-Much-Ness," Tenderness, and Team-Love SCOTTY SMITH   Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2   Compassionate Jesus, the call to shoulder up under one another’s burdens drives us to you today. Everywhere we look, we witness fresh stories of pain, need, and brokenness. Though we can easily look away, run away, or deny away, we choose to come to you. Every day you beckon us, “Cast your cares, anxieties, and burdens on me, for I care for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). In every season of stress, “too-much-ness,” and trauma, you subpoena us to your loving heart and broad shoulders, saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Thank you, Lord Jesus. Help us. Free us. This morning, I’m especially thinking of teams, staffs, and groups of leaders called to serve and love together. In recent weeks I’ve watched “too-much-ness” forge tenderness and team-love. But I’ve also watched it fuel fear, isolation, detachment, and poor choices. The way of the Gospel is never “every man and woman for themselves.” It’s you for each of us and all of us; and then, and only then, it’s us for one another. Jesus, this compels me to pray for leaders, our teams, and team-members. Help we who lead, to lead with self-awareness, grace-receiving humility, and tenderness towards others. Our first calling is to be with you, Jesus, not to do stuff for you. For our teams, Jesus help us cultivate a Gospel-culture—a work-space and environment of mutual encouragement and burden-bearing love. The best team-work always flows from team-love, team-nourishment, and team-care. Lastly, as the good shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine for the one lamb “missing-in-action,” give us kindness and wisdom for our team members who are struggling the most. Thank you, Jesus, 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 ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Grace for Our Thorns, Burrs, Punches, Regrets, and Arrows

April 25, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Grace for Our Thorns, Burrs, Punches, Regrets, and Arrows SCOTTY SMITH “Each time he (Abba) said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Cor. 12:9).   Heavenly Father, make this liberating truth more real than ever. You gave Paul “sufficient grace” for his “thorn in the flesh”—though he wanted a “thorn-free” life. But you haven’t promised us that this side of heaven. However, you have promised us we will never experience a “grace-less” day. Thank you, Abba. For our thorns in the flesh: Grant us grace to accept the inconvenient, limiting, painful things going on in our bodies. Free us to “boast in our weaknesses”—not just bemoan them. Release the aroma of grace from our broken places. For our burrs in the saddle: Father, some of us are dealing with aggravating people and circumstances. Irritation comes easy, but we prefer to be patient, kind, and trusting. Grant us struggle-shaped grace. For our punches to the gut:  Some of us are reeling from fresh disappointments, betrayals, and un-resolved “situations.” Help us catch our breath, gain Gospel-perspective, and move forward in hope. You are at work in all things for our good. Thank you, Abba. For our regrets in the past: Father, some of us are quite haunted, shamed, and shaped by past failures. Please free us. Re-convince our fragile hearts that Jesus is our perfect righteousness, not our disgruntled coach. For our arrows to the heart: Nothing hurts as much as relational pain. Father, grant grace for our messiest, triggerable, complex relationships. Teach us how to abide in Jesus’ love while we live in broken stories. We are SO ready for the Day of all things new, beautiful, and loving. 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

How Would You Like Our Father to Shock You?

April 24, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH How Would You Like Our Father to Shock You? SCOTTY SMITH “It is God who works in you, both to will and to accomplish his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). “By the grace of God, I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10). “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever” (Psalm 138:8).   Heavenly Father, thank you for rescuing us from the illusion that we could work our way into your acceptance and love. Where did we ever get the notion that we control your facial expressions—smiling, frowning, scowling—based on our goodness or lack thereof? Hallelujah, the Gospel  has “nuked” every notion of salvation by earning, mercy by deserving,  greater love from you by our greater performing for you. The grace and faith you give us bring Jesus’ perfect everything to our total neediness. Jesus’ work for us is finished, the Spirit’s work in us continues, and you Father, guarantee to finish the work with fullness and a flourish (Phil.1:6). Because you “will fulfill your purpose for me” (Ps.138:8), and because there is nothing more steadfast and enduring than your love, may the rest of our days be marked by…  Gratitude expressing itself in worship. Faith expressing itself in love. Grace expressing itself in kindness. Hope expressing itself in mission. Father, this is asking a lot, but since your resources are infinite, help us be ten times more easily encouraged by the Gospel than easily offended by mere people. Shock us with how gentle, kind, resilient, and forgiving you can make us. 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