Porcupines Getting Grace Upon Grace for Christmas

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Porcupines Getting Grace Upon Grace for Christmas SCOTTY SMITH   "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." John 1:16   Lord Jesus, this is a priceless, essential reality—"grace upon grace." I love that John used this phrase in his unique telling of the Christmas story (john 1:1-18). You—the eternal Word, full of grace and truth, took on our "flesh" that we might be made like you (1Jn.3:1-3). That's why knowing you is a journey requiring grace, grace, and more grace. Our need for ample grace gets highlighted during the holiday season. Old wounds get triggered. Brokenness gets neon-lighted. Messy relationships seem messier. Siblings can act their "sibling-iest" Personal agendas and pity parties wage war against each other. Loneliness feels its loneliest. Why is this so? First of all, you created us for loving relationships—with yourself and each other. But sin "mucked" it all up. Now we often act porcupines cuddling on a cold winter night We move towards each other for warmth. But we hurt and get hurt by each other's "quills." Then we withdraw, get lonely, then try again. But, hallelujah, we didn't invent this cycle of hurt upon hurt, requiring grace upon grace. Jesus, the world into which you were born was filled with madness and sadness, self-interest and self-indulgence,  Thank you for coming to make your blessings flow (not drip), "far as the curse is found." Thank you for being the Lamb who takes away our sin—not the self-help coach shaming us into "do more, try harder." Jesus, may Christmas 2023 be a bit different. Shock and bless us with your calming, healing, liberating presence. Sweeten the bitter waters of our brokenness with the new wine of your Kingdom. Free each of us to be the first to offer your welcome, forgiveness, and kindness—irrespective of the response we get. Indeed grant us copious grace that we might be copiously loving. 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.

May Jesus Stable-Size and Stable-Ize Our Hearts

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH May Jesus Stable-Size and Stable-Ize Our Hearts SCOTTY SMITH How big, gracious, glorious is Jesus—the one who entered our world as a totally dependent, diaper-wearing baby? "By Jesus all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." Col. 1:16-17   Friends, before offering a prayer for our day, I want to share a quote from C.S. Lewis' children's book "The Last Battle"—one of my favorite things Lewis wrote. As characters in the story transition from this life (the Shadowlands) to the next (heaven), they invite us to ponder the staggering implications of Jesus' birth in a fresh way. They come upon a Stable that seems to bear a striking resemblance to the original one in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Here's how they describe their experience.   "It seems, then," said Tirian, smiling himself, "that the Stable seen from within and the Stable seen from without are two different places." "Yes," said the Lord Digory. "The inside is bigger than the outside." "Yes," said Queen Lucy. "In our world too, a Stable once had something inside it that was bigger than our whole world."   Yes! and Hallelujah!, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of our hearts to see what your Spirit alone can reveal to us. No matter how highly we already think of you, your splendor and glory have no ceiling or end. Jesus, no matter how deep we believe the ocean of your mercy and grace to be, it is unfathomably more bottomless. No matter how astonished we are at your incarnation and work on our behalf, we have just begun to apprehend the implications of your birth, life, death, and resurrection. Jesus, before you return to finish making all things new in our world, stable-size our hearts. Expand our capacity for awe, worship, and gospel-astonishment. Also, "stable-ize" our hearts, for we are weak, wary, and weary of living in our broken world. As we fix our gaze on you, Jesus, fill our hearts with your beauty, goodness, and truth. Thank you for always calling us "further in" and "further up." 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.

All Kinds of Crying Matters to Jesus

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH All Kinds of Crying Matters to Jesus SCOTTY SMITH "He will wipe every tear out of their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4   Lord Jesus, you alone are worthy of face-down adoration, whole-being jubilation, and eager-groaning anticipation. You love us with an everlasting love and care for us with unbroken intercession. From the day of your first infant-cry in our world, up till the day you cried outside the tomb of a dear friend (Lazarus), till the day you cried out from the cross "It is finished!", humility and generosity have marked your life. You offer and generate all kinds of "cries." Indeed, a most blessed Day is coming when "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, will cry out, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" (Rev. 5:1). Today we add our current "cry." Lord Jesus, come back soon. First, because we long to see you as you are and be with you forever. Secondly, because we crave the Day of wiped tears, redeemed pain, and no more death—anywhere in any form. I know I'm not the only one with friends in tear-generating stories, heart-overwhelming circumstances, and anguish-fueling stretches of life. I also know I'm not alone when I say, I am personally ready to be completely whole, totally free, and comprehensively healed of all the effects of sin and death. Jesus, I am so ready to be made fully like you. Until that Day, free and empower us to love others as you love us. So exceedingly 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.

Jesus Is Our Oxygen and Feast

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Is Our Oxygen and Feast SCOTTY SMITH "To us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end." Isa. 9:6–7   Lord Jesus, to know you is eternal life, period. But to connect with your "everything-ness" on a daily basis is to breath oxygen and feast on the finest of fair. In other words, you are essential and glorious. On this Monday December 11th, we inhale and delight in the marvelous grace of Isaiah's vision of who you are, Jesus. Knowing the government of the whole world already rests on your shoulders gives us a joy second only to knowing your shoulders fully bore the weight of our sin. You are Wonderful Counselor—that is, God's gift of incarnate wisdom to us… "our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Cor.1:30). Today, this means we don't have to have any doubts about what God thinks of us. He loves us as much as he loves you… stunning, freeing, transforming… the best news ever. You are Mighty God—not merely god-like, but fully God, who at Christmas became fully man without ever ceasing to be God. Mystery of all mysteries, humility beyond measure… no wonder on the night of your birth angels harked, shepherds ran, and Mary marveled. You are Everlasting Father—in this sense. You reveal the Father to us, and only through your finished work do we ourselves know God as our Abba, Father. Hallelujah, and thank you, Jesus. You are Prince of Peace—our peace with God and God's peace with us. And as though that isn't enough, Jesus you are presently "making all things new" as you make your "blessings flow far as the curse is found." Joy to the World, indeed, and joy to us today. 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.

Our Compassion-Filled, Contempt-Free Forever

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Our Compassion-Filled, Contempt-Free Forever SCOTTY SMITH   The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them… They will neither harm nor destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with knowing the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Isa.11:6–9   Dear Lord Jesus, since every promise God made finds its "Yes!" in you, we bless you for securing the vision Isaiah describes in this imagination-expanding, heart-enthralling passage. Because there's so much contempt in our world today, it's hard to imagine—not just the absence of all harm, but also the 100% presence of your glory, grace, and knowing you. For isn't that how "waters cover the sea"—like, totally? All violence, predation, and hiding will give way to wolves frolicking with lambs, leopards and goats napping—calves, lions, and young horses strolling together. And we, ourselves, will be marked with childlike wonder and innocence—devoid of all fear of "lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!" But, Jesus, as much as we love the vision of life in the new heaven and new earth as a "giant petting zoo," immeasurably more so, we crave the Day when, first of all, we will know, love, and delight in you as fully as you intend (1Jn.3:1-3; Col.3:1-4). And secondly when we will fully love each other as you perfectly love us. The New Command (Jn.13:34-35) will no longer be a command to obey but a delight to live. All contempt, resentment, and meanness will be expelled by the wideness, "long-ness," broadness, and deepness of your love (Eph.3:18-19). Hallelujah, hasten that Day, Jesus. 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.