Robust with Gratitude, Extravagant in Generosity

May 27, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Robust with Gratitude, Extravagant in Generosity SCOTTY SMITH 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

A Reverse Tug-of-War

May 26, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Reverse Tug-of-War SCOTTY SMITH 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 Jesus Really “Brings It”

May 25, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Only Jesus Really "Brings It" SCOTTY SMITH “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor… comfort the brokenhearted…  proclaim freedom for captives… to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come… to give a crown of beauty for ashes, joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair” (Isa. 61:1-3; Lk. 4:16-21)   Lord Jesus, I love this hope-pregnant passage—this Gospel-promissory of resolved ache, fulfilled longings, and perfect everything. We can’t ponder it too deeply, trust it too fully, or live it too robustly. It compels us to love, worship, and delight it you. For you are the “Yes!” to every promise God has made—no exceptions. My tender, vulnerable, wobbling heart has needed this refreshed perspective—in response to the recent “Homecoming” of a few respected leaders and good friends. My first instinct has been to think, what will we do without “a Tim Keller?” Earlier in my grief-life, I asked the same about my spiritual dad, Jack Miller. And you responded then, as you are now. Jesus, thank you for reminding me of these words from Paul: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1Cor. 3:6-7). There was a time when your young Bride could not imagine life without “an Apostle Paul.” But Paul imagined it, planned for it, and put the emphasis where it should always be… on you. Jesus, only you make things grow, and only you are making all things new. You use “foolish, weak, powerless, despised things”—and “things that are not” to accomplish your eternal purposes (1Cor. 1:26-29). Our favorite preachers often “bring it,” as we say, after a powerful message… or at the end of a faithful life. But only you, Jesus, are “really bringing it”—for you are our “righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Our boast and hope are in you” (1Cor.1:30-31). 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

Puffing Ourselves Down

May 24, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Puffing Ourselves Down SCOTTY SMITH Jesus “made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant” (Phil.2:7). “Let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let’s make a name for ourselves” (Gen.11:4). “Diotrephes, who loves to be first…” (3Jn.1:9) “Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you (Jesus) more than anything on earth.” (Ps. 73:25)   Dear Jesus, during the past couple of weeks, a particular phrase from my spiritual dad, Jack Miller, keeps coming to mind. “A reputation is too heavy of a load for a child of God to carry.” Thinking too much about what others think of us will crush us. Tying our sense of well-being to the high-regard of others will seduce, then destroy us. Loving to be first, like Diotrephes, might get our name in the Bible, but as a warning, not as a blessing. As several wonderful Gospel-leaders have recently gone to heaven—(where Jack was probably one of the first to greet them), I’m more mindful of my own brevity, weaknesses, and your claim on my remaining years. Jesus, I’m more grateful than ever for leaders and friends who love the Gospel, grow in grace, and lead as “first-pray-ers” and chief-repenters. Thank you for those who don’t “puff” themselves up, but “puff” themselves down. Make me more like them. “Platforms” are for high-divers. “Brands” are for cereals. But a towel and a basin are for leaders who know, love, and follow you. Jesus, if you give me 10 more years or 10 more months, keep stunning my heart with your truth, goodness, and beauty. I want to love you more than anything in heaven or on earth. Everything else will take care of itself. 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

Regular “Reps” of Praise, Gratitude, and Contentment

May 23, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Regular "Reps" of Praise, Gratitude, and Contentment SCOTTY SMITH   “Praise the Lord, my soul, and don’t forget a single one of his benefits to you.” (Ps. 103:2)   Heavenly Father, age doesn’t just atrophy muscle mass, but also “gratitude-mass” and memory-muscle. Thankfully, having a strong “core” doesn’t mean we sport “6-pack-abs.” Likewise having a good Gospel-memory doesn’t require perfect recall—just regular “reps” of praise, gratitude, and contentment. So on this May Tuesday, here we go. Father, thank you for the glorious salvation you gave us in Jesus. By your sovereign goodness, you revealed the depth of our need, then enriched us with the gold of your grace. We’re hidden in Christ, clothed in Jesus’ righteousness, and rooted in your love. All day long we’ll be children of your affection, the focus of Jesus’ prayers, and kept by the Spirit’s power. With a roof over our head, a place in your Story, and death now as “gain,” why would we ever get stuck in worry-and-whine or blame-and-shame? Thank you for friends who invite us to pray and to play. Friends who enjoy pondering your glory in creation and mining the riches of the Gospel. Friends who feast on grace manna, apple fritters, veggie-burgers (trying to be all-menu sensitive), gluten-blessed and gluten-free bread. Friends who linger well, and laugh and lament at just the right time. Father, thank you that though we’d love to be healed this day, we will be healed one Day. Nothing broken will remain. No tears will be left un-wiped. We will see Jesus as he is, and we will be made like him (1 Jn.3:1-3). In these great “benefits,” and with this compelling hope, we enter this day to live and love to your glory. 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

Delight in, Enjoying, Marveling at Jesus

May 22, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Delight in, Enjoying, Marveling at Jesus SCOTTY SMITH “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart will also be” (Matt. 6:21). “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:7-8).   Dear Jesus, with friends recently transitioning from this life to the next, I find myself wondering what it would be like for my family to “declutter” after my journey Home? Going through my closet, drawers, “piles,” and accumulated stuff… what would provoke laugher, tears, and, probably the question, “What was Scotty thinking?” What would be kept, given to friends, taken to Good Will, or immediately carted off to the dump? Once a treasure, now a dust-catching bother—Jesus, not only do I want to declutter the storage spaces in my home, but also in my heart. It’s one thing to have too many “toys,” clothes, nick-nacks, and books; but quite another to accumulate too many worries, resentments, lesser-loves, and distractions. Jesus, I want to finish my days with one great consuming affection—making and keeping you my treasure. I want my heart-address, primary passion, and greatest love to be you, Jesus. So, on a scale of 1-10, show me what people, things, irritations, and fears I’ve given the value of 8-to-10—though they only deserve a 2-to-4. And though I’ve given you a “10” theologically, Biblically, and creed-wise, Jesus take my delight in you, enjoyment of you, and marveling at you to a whole new place. Renew, refresh, refuel my love for you. Jesus, I don’t really care what people find in my closets when I die; I want them to taste you in my life while I live. 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