This Makes Jesus Glorious and Exposes Our Helplessness

June 10, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH This Makes Jesus Glorious and Exposes Our Helplessness SCOTTY SMITH “Do everything in love” (1Cor.16:10)   Heavenly Father, you never exaggerate, but really… “Do everything in love? Such a calling makes the riches of your grace and the power of the Holy Spirit essential—like oxygen, water, and bread. We take this command seriously only because you first loved us—giving Jesus for us, and giving us to Jesus. So… Help us love well when circumstances make it easy to be reactive, defensive, and angry. The drift towards resentment and payback is greased with Gospel-forgetfulness and self-righteousness. Help us love well when people hurt and disappoint us, and when we see things so differently from family members, friends, colleagues. Fixing our eyes on people and pain is often much easier than fixing our eyes on Jesus. Help us love well when circumstances reveal our brokenness, weaknesses, and spiritual immaturity. That’s not fun, but it’s an essential part of growing in grace. You are making us like Jesus, not making life our lives comfortable. Help us love well when our takeout order is wrong, the UPS delivery is late, traffic is horrible, guests show up early, it did rain on our parade, everybody caught fish but us, our spouse forgot again, there’s mold in our baseboard or squirrels in the attic. None of this is ultimate. Only you and the Gospel are. Help us love well when we experience how little control we have over what people think about us, what our kids choose to do, and what tomorrow will bring. With more clarity than ever, help us see the occupied throne of heaven, and free us to savor the wonders of our “in-Christ-ness.” Abba, keep us daily (hourly) alive to your tenacious, wild, outrageous, joyful, transforming love for us 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 ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Who Would You Miss? Tell Them Before Heaven

June 9, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Who Would You Miss? Tell Them Before Heaven SCOTTY SMITH   “Your love (Philemon) has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people” (Phile.1:7) “God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2Cor.7:6). “Greet Priscilla and Aquila… they risked their lives for me” (Rom.16:3-4). “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too” (Rom.16:13). “Onesiphorus often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” (2Tim.1:16).   Heavenly Father, these many verses, names, and intentional “thank-yous” have gotten my attention this morning. Thank you for the many people you’ve placed in our lives—our surrogate moms and dads, the grace-conduits and mercy-fountains, the timely refreshers and empathic comforters… our Gospel-posse and two-legged parties. Sisters and brothers whose listening give us more answers than words ever could. Most of them have never held a microphone, but they speak deep to our hearts. Many of them are low on the “org chart,” but they are off-the-charts in encouragement. But do they know? Do they have a clue how much we treasure them? Father, as you know, I’ve led more funerals this year than in many years. Several friends, ole mates, and once-upon-a-time colleagues in the gospel, life, and joy have passed into heaven. In many cases, I grieve their absence more than I celebrated their presence. There are thank-yous, words of affection, acknowledgements of appreciation I wish I had given. That’s not guilt, but your grace at work in my heart. Free me and my friends from putting off thanks, encouragements, and appreciations. Though there are some goodbyes we’re sad we didn’t get to say, but there are many “I so appreciate yous” that can still be given. Who would we miss, Abba? 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

Giving Thanks Precedes Gratitude

June 8, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Giving Thanks Precedes Gratitude SCOTTY SMITH “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph. 5:20     Heavenly Father, this is totally true: The discipline of giving thanks leads to feelings of gratitude—not the other way around. When I’m mopey, spiritually flat, “humbug” or drifting (racing) into a navel-gazing pity-party… nothing rescues me out of that downward spiral more than thanks-giving. Early June, my list includes:     Thank you for granting us 100% forgiveness, declaring us righteous in Christ, and hiding our lives in Jesus. You cannot love us more and you’ll never love us less. That’s not a cliché, mantra, or mere gospel-speak: It’s the best news ever and forever.     Father, thank you for flourless chocolate cake, Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries and homemade granola mixed together. Thank for sovereignly ruling over all things all the time, no exceptions. Thank you for the guitar playing of Phil Keaggy, Jeff Beck, and Pat Metheny. Thank you for guaranteeing Alzheimer’s, cancer, mental/emotional illness, meanness, and war all have expiration dates. Thank you for friends with whom I can fly fish, marinate in the Gospel, hike trails, laugh, and repent. Thank you for the colors blue and green. Thank you for 51 years of grace-kissed marriage with Darlene, two awesome kids (and their awesome spouses), and 4 spectacular “grands.” Thank you that all of history is shaped by your commitment to redeem your every-nation, impossible-to-count family. Thank you that one Day, Jesus will finish making all things new. Thank you for upcoming trips in the next several months to Alaska, Montana, Ireland, and Scotland, and a new camera to document it. Thank you for Jesus’ empty tomb and occupied throne. Thank you “it’s” not going to always hurt this bad, no matter our “it.” Father, thank you that we’re almost 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 ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

We Will Rely on Something. Choose Wisely

June 7, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH We Will Rely on Something. Choose Wisely SCOTTY SMITH “The best-equipped army cannot save a king… Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory… It cannot save you. But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love” (Ps.33:16–18). “We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love” (1 Jn.4:16)   Heavenly Father, it’s a good thing when our “mojo and magic” are running out—when our “chutzpah,” like our ego, gets deflated. When everything that’s worked in the past, wilts and fails us in the present. That’s when we’re forced, or at least have the awesome opportunity, to rely on your unfailing love. There is no other supply adequate for our need(s). No other strength is sufficient in our weakness and confusion. No other balm can touch our pain or give deep enough rest. No other hope can bear the weight of our fears, disappointments, and longings. To rely on your unfailing love isn’t to trust in a something, but a Someone. Abba, your love is enough because you are altogether good, glorious, and gracious. We know this to be true because of everything you’ve already done for us in Jesus. Thank you, and Hallelujah! We also have fresh, sweet evidence of your unfailing love in this way… (Think of 3 things you are most grateful for early in June 2023. Gratitude is a powerful form of spiritual warfare). So care-catching Father, we bring you our wandering hearts and our wayward children. We acknowledge our health concerns and our fears about our ever-changing world. It’s scary, but you are 1000 times greater. We give you our irritation, resentments, and small roots of bitterness before they get any bigger. We own, and release to you, our penchant for discontent and envy. Father, all over again—make Jesus the most unavoidable, most precious, most heart-freeing 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

Are We Vertically All-by-Grace, but Horizontal Legalists?

June 6, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Are We Vertically All-by-Grace, but Horizontal Legalists? SCOTTY SMITH “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph. 4:32   Heavenly Father, we might call it a paradox, the ultimate contradiction, a tragedy, a non sequitur, or a big ole “hot mess.” But many of us who hate legalism with a vengeance (when it comes to having a relationship with you), continue to live like legalists in our horizontal relationships. People have to earn, then re-earn our acceptance, kindness, and love. That’s not who we want to be, Abba. We know the Gospel better than that. No matter the circumstances, story, or details, your love for us in Jesus is to be the hallmark and heartbeat of our horizontal relationships. Not as doormats to be walked on, but foot-washers who get low, we are to root our forgiving, repenting, and reconciling in the daily mercies and inexhaustible grace you give us. Father, forgive us for the moments—even hours, when our default mode is to repay indifference for indifference, stubbornness for stubbornness, coolness for coolness, wise crack for wise crack, or pettiness for pettiness. We so look forward to the Day when we will be made perfect in love (1 John 3:1-1). But until that Day, grant us quicker repentances when we get annoyed and angry, truly hurt and truly hard. Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, keep us so alive to our union with Christ that it will be difficult to stay “snarky,” resentful, and disconnected. When, in certain relationships, we must put boundaries in place, may they be more like bridges of wise-grace built for hope, than motes filled with venomous alligators waiting to bring harm. Help us Father. Loving is costly. No one knows that better than you. 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

Cheer Up! We’re Gonna Need Grace All the Way Home

June 5, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Cheer Up! We're Gonna Need Grace All the Way Home SCOTTY SMITH “I am the least of the apostles and don’t even deserve to be called an apostle…” (1 Cor 15:9 – written AD 53); “I am least deserving of all God’s people…” (Eph. 3:8 – AD 62); “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” (1 Tim 1:15 – AD 65).   Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into the world to save sinners—to redeem those of us who don’t love God with everything we have and are—we who fail to obey our Father all the time in every way with joy. This is the most inclusive group in all of history and humanity. None of us need to feel overlooked, left out, or rejected. Woohoo and Hallelujah… all of us qualify for your saving grace, and each of us can have it freely and fully. This is the best new ever. As dire as our condition is, your provision to meet out need is a “gazillion” times greater. What we could never do for ourselves, you have perfectly done for us, Jesus. Thank you! Grace saves to the uttermost. And as these three verses from Paul reveal, grace saves us from first to last. The more of you we discover, Jesus, the more of you we need. In the timeline of Paul’s growth as a believer, we don’t observe him growing in self-deprecation but in Gospel-celebration. He didn’t backslide into sin; he front-slid into more grace—for grace always flows downhill. Reveal more of yourself to each of us, Jesus. That’s how we become more like you—kinder and gentler, more humble and more loving, quicker at repenting and better at forgiving. None of us are as free, peaceful, and joyful as you intend. 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