Jesus’ Generosity and the Devil’s Thievery

June 24, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus' Generosity and the Devil's Thievery SCOTTY SMITH “The thief (the devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).   Dear Jesus, first of all, thank you for coming into our world to give us life—abundant and eternal life. By your life and death for us, we have passed from death to newness of life (Jn. 5:24; Rom.6:4). And all by your grace, we have a “priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Pet.1:4). Hallelujah, and thank you. The devil knows he’s lost us for eternity, but that doesn’t stop his thievery. He can’t snatch us from your hand, but he still tries to steal a lot of stuff from our hearts—precious things you have won for us and give us freely. Wisdom involves being wise to his schemes, and taking proper measures. (2 Cor.2:11). Like a professional robber “casing the joint” before the break in, the devil leaves most of our stuff alone, but targets. Jesus, first and foremost, the devil wants to rob us of intimacy with you (2 Cor.11:1-3)—the assurance of your love, enjoyment of your delight in us, and the peace you alone can give us (Jn.14:27). 90% + of his “break-ins” focus on “stealing, killing, and destroying” any sense of a close walk we enjoy with you. This is the “Hope Diamond” of our hearts. SO Jesus, for the rest of this 2023 summer, we ask you to restore the love we had for you at first. Renew, refresh, re-invigorate our walk, intimacy, and enjoyment of you. And if we’ve never had it, “bring it on.” Once again, be the ALL that really matters to 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 ©2023 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Bodaciously Essential

June 23, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Bodaciously Essential SCOTTY SMITH   “It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace” (Heb.13:9). “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet.3:18).   Lord Jesus, the Scriptures are without error, but instead of “good” in this verse, I would have used words like “bodaciously essential,” “more important that blood and oxygen,” “the greatest privilege we’ll have before heaven.” Indeed, what will it profit us if we only eat heart-healthy foods, walk 50 miles a week, have a cholesterol level of 125 and a resting heart rate of 52 and yet have grace-flabby hearts? So what if we can easily play 3 hours of pickleball, but get “winded” after 10 minutes of prayer? As the Apostle Paul wrote, “physical training definitely has value; but godliness (growth in grace) has value for both this life and the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). So lead us to the grace-gym—the training table, sauna, spa, the regimen which will cause our hearts to grow. We’ll earn nothing for our efforts, but we’ll profit beyond all calculation. For the more our hearts are strengthened by grace, the more they will beat for your glory. They’ll have less room for idols, worry, and criticism… and much more room for freedom, hope, and love. We’ll repent quicker, forgive deeper, and laugh louder. We’ll throw more Gospel-parties and fewer pity-parties. We’ll esteem you more and think about ourselves less often. We’ll be more generous with our time, talents, and treasures… and we’ll hoard fewer resentments, grudges, and irritants. May it be, Jesus, even this very weekend in June 2023. 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

Don’t Be a Rebel, Insurgent, and Dissenter to Jesus’ Peace

June 22, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Don't Be a Rebel, Insurgent, and Dissenter to Jesus' Peace SCOTTY SMITH   “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Col. 3:15     Lord Jesus, today like every day, somebody or something is going to gain the upper hand on our hearts. Our hearts will be swayed, seized, and ruled. Some entity(ies) will be the “boss of me”—our functional “lord.” It could be busyness, bitterness, or baseball; fear, fractured relationships, or fly fishing. It could be the shaming power of darkness or the seductive lure of sin. It could be overbearing people or under-performing employees, the failure of our investments or a neighbor’s new vacation home. It could legalistic religion or a dead dad’s opinions, old regrets or new fantasies—fitting into skinny-jeans, pastoring a conflict-free church, or having our children think we “Rock!” And the list goes on and on. Jesus, in light of this Scripture, we choose your peace as the ruler of our hearts—our cardiac king, mercy monarch, and shalom-giver. On the cross you secured God’s peace with us, and our peace with God. We no longer have to be afraid to die. Our eternal life has begun, our citizenship in heaven is irrevocable, and you are our great inheritance. How can we keep from overflowing with gratitude? The truth is, some of us have more peace as we think about death than how we think about the rest of the summer. Jesus, may your peace rule in our hearts—as in reign, take over and take charge, be the most compelling and controlling reality. Forgive us for living as rebels, insurgents, and dissenters. We surrender afresh to you and your peace. 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

No Greater Rest—Carried and Embraced

June 21, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH No Greater Rest—Carried and Embraced SCOTTY SMITH “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” Deut. 33:12   Heavenly Father, I’ve never taken the time to let this image sink in, settle my heart, and take over. Why would we ever look for rest anywhere else? Why is it so difficult to believe you are this involved in our lives and struggles? Because of Jesus’ finished work for us, I don’t doubt my “belovedness”—for he bore our sin and robed us in his righteousness. But day in and day out… hour to hour… mild “hiccup” to crisis… great day to hospital run… catching fish to burying a friend… I realize how easy it is to take you for granted—to think other of you than you are, and less of you than you deserve. You command our rest, and for good reasons. “Resting between y our shoulders”—there’s two ways this is stunning, timely, and freeing to me, Abba. Sometimes I just need to be carried on your back—resting between your shoulders, not as a burden, but as your child. Thank you for not despising our weakness and weariness. You say to each of your daughters and sons: “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isa.46:4). And then there’s the perpetual, grace-full embrace we enjoy from you as your adopted children. “Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him” (Lk.15:20). To live in this embrace—your embrace, is to know what it means for us to be “in Christ.” Rest indeed, 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

Marinating in the Magnificent More-ness of the Gospel

June 20, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Marinating in the Magnificent More-ness of the Gospel SCOTTY SMITH “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” 1 Thess. 5:23-24   Heavenly Father, there’s so much relief and hope crammed into these two verses. Hallelujah, you didn’t just call us to life in Jesus, you are also at work making us like him “through and through.” From head to foot, inside and out, you have declared us to be “blameless” in Christ. You will “hold us fast” and keep us all the way Home. No wonder you’re called “the God of peace”—because you sure give a lot of peace to us, your children. Nowhere else can such freedom, joy, and assurance be found. Like many, I lived a long time more like the Gospel is good advice than Good News—an exhortation to greater holiness in me, and a bigger smile on your face. But, hallelujah, the Gospel isn’t rules for putting a bigger smile on your face, it’s your declaration that Jesus, himself, is our “righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1 Cor.1:30). You don’t just smile at us; your favor is permanently resting on us and you never stop delighting in us—never. Though I wish I had recognized the “gospel-less-gospel” sooner, I’m glad to be savoring, swimming in, and living by the riches of your grace now. Obedience is gratitude, repentance is joy, holiness is beautiful. Why? Because we can’t make you love us more, and you will never love us less. Thank you, Father. Free us, even more, 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

Doing the “Comparison-Math”

June 19, 2023 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Doing the "Comparison-Math" SCOTTY SMITH   “Do all things without grumbling” (Phil. 2:14). “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil. 4:11-12).   Lord Jesus, there are some courses in the “school of grace” for which we need regular refreshment. Contentment is one of them. Not Zen-like numbness or “stiff upper-lips,” but living with a core of gratitude and peace. Whether the bass are biting or are rare as the northern lights. Whether we’re feasting on filet mignon or can-of-SPAM. Whether the flight was delayed or landed 17 minutes early. Whether we’re feeling greatly appreciated or not even seen, may our “okay-ness” and joy be found in you, Lord. Jesus, if we’re going to do any “comparison-math,” let it be comparing “the sufferings of this present time with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom.8:18). On a disappointment-scale of 1 to 10, some things we’ve given an 8 are really only 3-worthy. Whatever chapter, day, or hour of life we’re currently living in, may the end of the Story put everything into perspective. Before long, all will be right, beautiful, and forever new. By your Holy Spirit, convict us when we default to murmuring and complaining, which easily segue into whining and blaming. Heal us of Gospel amnesia—too easily forgetting every good thing we have in Christ. Open our heart-eyes to see the hope of our calling, the riches of grace, and the occupied throne of heaven. 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