The Peace of Adoration: Enthralled and Enflamed with Jesus

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Peace of Adoration: Enthralled and Enflamed with Jesus SCOTTY SMITH   "Anna never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them (Mary and Joseph) at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child [Jesus] to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36–38   Lord Jesus, whether Anna was 84 or 104, she'd been a widow for decades, yet looking and longing for you even longer. As a prophetess, she knew you by promise, faith, and hope, but not by name. But as with Simeon, Anna recognized you the moment she laid her eyes on you, and her heart was filled with gladness. In you she found the true meaning of her name—grace and favor. She prayed for the Day you would arrive to fill the earth with God's glory, and empty it of all evil and injustice. We earnestly long for that Day too. But even more than she yearned for the Day, she longed for you, Jesus. You're not the means to any end; you are the meaning of everything. You are the "joy of every longing heart," "the dear desire of every nation," "the hope of all the earth" (Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus). All of Anna's worship, fasting, and prayer were pregnant with you, Jesus. It wasn't a something she wanted, but a Someone she adored.  Married to her earthly husband a mere 7 years, Anna is now married to you forever. Dear Jesus, us too—hallelujah, we enjoy the very same grace and favor poured out on Anna. Whether we are married or single, widows or widowers, just engaged, just divorced, or just waiting… for the rest of our lives, we want to worship, love, and serve you with everything we have and are. Jesus, enthrall and enflame our hearts afresh with your beauty, goodness, and truth. So Very Amen.             Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

The Peace of Assurance: “No Guilt in Life, No Fear in Death”

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Peace of Assurance: "No Guilt in Life, No Fear in Death" SCOTTY SMITH   Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, now you are letting your servant depart in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel" Luke 2:28-32   Lord Jesus, tears in my eyes, and uncanny peace in my heart… I don't want to die and have no sense that I will die soon, but I am grateful beyond measure for the assurance that, like Simeon, I will "depart in peace," whenever you call me Home. Jesus, with fitting humility and unfiltered joy, I affirm you to be the reason—the only reason I have "no guilt in life, and no fear in death"—a line from a favorite hymn I can hardly sing without coking up ("In Christ Alone"). I feel guilty, but I am not—because you took my guilt on the cross. I don't feel good enough, and I am not—but you gave me your perfect righteousness (2Cor.5:21; 1Cor.1:30). Laying aside your glory, laying in a manger, laying in Simeon's arms, laying down your life on the cross, laying in a tomb for three days—no one could take your life from you, Jesus. This is what Christmas is all about… the King of Glory became the king in a crib—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—who has taken away my sin. Jesus, I want to ramp up my "harking" this year—heeding and heralding the joyful announcement of the angels. "Hark!" The herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born king." Mild He lays His glory by; born that man no more may die—(born that we no more may die). Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth—(not a second chance). Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the new-born king!" Hark indeed, and So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

The Peace of Acceptance

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Peace of Acceptance SCOTTY SMITH  "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." Luke 2:20   Lord Jesus, I woke up this morning praying for friends who will need extra grace to make it through the rest of December, including Christmas. For many, the merriment of the season contrasts with the brokenness they're feeling. The Day of all things new looks better and better for those whose lives are marked by all things "messy." You "get" that, Jesus. More importantly, you care and you come near. You still do. Choosing shepherds as the first recipients of your birth announcement was brilliant, beautiful, and deeply encouraging to us, Jesus. The shepherds got one of the first glimpses of your incarnate self—God as a baby. They beheld and marveled at your smallness, weakness, and utter dependence on your mother. You created Mary and came to save her; and she nursed you—giving her milk to the one who feeds the birds and clothes the fields. Holy, holy mystery… the greatness of smallness. But when the shepherds left your manger, they were still "shepherds." "Unfairness" was written all over their story. They still couldn't worship at the temple, though they raised sheep for temple sacrifices. They still couldn't give testimony in a court of law. Profiled as untrustworthy members of the community, they didn't get a book deal, start a podcast, or get free falafel in the marketplace. They returned to a difficult life, the social stigma of being shepherds, and a denarii-to-denarii existence. At one level, nothing changed; but in what matters most, everything changed. Jesus, there's something magnificent about accepting things we cannot change—not acquiescing to injustice, but experiencing the deepest peace while we steward the greatness of our brokenness. It won't always hurt like this, but it does now, Jesus. We're not looking for lessons to learn in our shepherd-like messes, but for you—the Good Shepherd. You laid down your life for us. Surely we can trust you with everything else. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

The Peace We Crave Comes from the Favor We Can’t Earn

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Peace We Crave Comes from the Favor We Can't Earn SCOTTY SMITH   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom God's favor rests." Luke 2:13-14   Lord Jesus, as I meditate on the angels' bold, bodacious, and beautiful declaration, I want to weep, dance, fall down in worship, get up and dance some more. It's all right there in this one doxological decree—this heart-enflaming, Gospel-saturated announcement. "Peace to those on whom God's favor rests." Everything our hearts long for, and more than we could imagine… because of you and everything you've done for us, we can know with certainty that our heavenly Father isn't just "okay" with us, but that we now live in his perfect, always-there, thoroughgoing favor. You took the disfavor we deserve to give us the delight we cannot imagine. You took the disgrace of our rebellion, sin, and idolatry to give us the full-grace of Abba's acceptance, forgiveness, and delight. The peace we crave can only be found in the favor you give, Jesus. We invest so much energy looking for favor—hoping to be seen and known, craving connection, wanting to be wanted, longing to be validated and valued—by peers, a spouse, a lover, our kids, parents, colleagues and the list goes on. But the favor of people will never be enough. Hallelujah, for the Gospel! No peace compares with Gospel-peace. Even if there were no wars in the world, no fights in our families, no hostilities in our hearts—without the favor of God there is no peace. Just a temporary absence of conflict, a fragile truce between combatants, a pause to reload anger and ammunition for the next round. Jesus, there won't be—there can't be peace on earth, or peace in a heart, until you, the Prince of Peace reign there. So Very Amen.     Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Joining Prophets and Angles in Holy Ache and Living Hope

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Joining Prophets and Angles in Holy Ache and Living Hope SCOTTY SMITH   "The prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow… even angels long to look into these things." 1 Pet.1:10-12   Lord Jesus, it's the first Sunday of Advent—a 4-Sunday stretch set apart for pondering the glories of your two comings, lingering in the promises of the Gospel, and giving voice to our restless desire, deep longings, and growing love for you. The prophets and angels certainly felt these things—as reflected in today's passage. I love Peter's description of their awe-filled curiosity and great anticipation. Though they didn't know your name, Jesus, they knew your comings would be both costly and glorious. You came to us low and got even lower. From your cradle to your cross to your crown—everything about you is marked by your matchless humility and measureless grace. You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and the Lord of Lords who takes everything broken in the world and makes it new. We gratefully live on this side of your first coming, but we intensely crave to live on the other side of your second coming. Jesus, we are so ready for you to return and finish making all things new and beautiful—starting with our own unglorified hearts. During Advent, take us by the hand and heart and lead us deeper into the holy ache and living hope you alone can satisfy. Stun us afresh, Jesus, with the riches of your now-and-coming-grace. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  P.O. Box 170346    Austin  TX  78717    You received this email because you are subscribed to Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.