“O Come, All Ye Unfaithful”

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "O Come, All Ye Unfaithful" SCOTTY SMITH "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you will come for me whose origins are from of old… He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord… And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace." Micah 5:2, 4–5   Lord Jesus, how we love Micah's prophecies of your life and love for us. Having laid down your life as the Lamb of God, you've risen from the dead, and are now our standing shepherd—relentlessly caring, vigilantly protecting, and faithfully providing for us. But who is included in "us"? Who are the sheep you stand and shepherd with much tenderness and compassion? This question has fresh and profound meaning to me this December morning as I am hearing these grace-saturated words sung over me as I pray and write… "O come, all you unfaithful; Come, weak and unstable; Come, know you are not alone. O come, barren and waiting ones, weary of praying, come. See what your God has done. Christ is born, Christ is born, Christ is born for you." ("O Come, All Ye Unfaithful" by Bob Kauflin and Lisa Clow) This makes us (me) want to weep and dance at the same time, Jesus. Because if only the faithful can come to you, then what about the rest of us? Many, maybe most of us, don't think of ourselves as very faithful or full of faith. Many of us are struggling to love and weary of pretending—we aren't just in a mess, but are a mess. It is to us the Holy Spirit is singing right now… "O come, bitter and broken; Come with fears unspoken; Come, taste of His perfect love. O come, guilty and hiding ones. There is no need to run. See what your God has done. Christ is born, Christ is born, Christ is born for you." Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Jesus you are our peace because you are our "righteousness, holiness, and redemption" (1Cor.1:30). So Very Amen.     Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

So What Has Jesus Won, Secured, and Guaranteed?

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH So What Has Jesus Won, Secured, and Guaranteed? SCOTTY SMITH   "Wolves and lambs will live together. Leopards and goats will nap beside calves, lions, and young horses. A little child will shepherd them, because childlikeness is the culture of God's Kingdom. Harming, being hurt, and destruction will be eliminated forever.    Zion, the whole earth, and all creation will be transformed into the new heaven and new earth. Knowing the Lord, and the glory of God, will fill everything just like salt water fills an ocean—which is completely". Paraphrase of Isaiah11:6–9   Dear Lord Jesus, since you are the "Yes!" to every promise in the Bible, we worship and adore you for guaranteeing Isaiah's hard-to-imagine vision of our perfect, peace-filled forever. Really Jesus? We'll never again say or feel, "Lions, tigers, and bears, Oh my!" But as much as we love the vision of life in the new heaven and new earth as a giant petting zoo, Jesus—immeasurably more so, we crave the Day when we will know and love as you deserve. No more merely "appreciating" or "greatly admiring" you—but flat out, full-bore, unfiltered, whole-being delight in you. And secondly, Jesus, 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 joy to celebrate. All contempt, resentment, and meanness will be expelled by the wideness, long-ness, broadness, and deepness of your love (Eph.3:18-19). Personally, I love dreaming of the Day I will never get irritated, be controlling, finish other people's sentences, remember failures, or under-believe the Gospel again. Hasten the Day, Jesus, and help me and my friends love with a little more childlikeness and unselfishness this very weekend. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

Join us in making a lasting impact - your gift matters!

Your generosity will help catalyze our mission

View in browser Dear First,   As we approach the end of the year, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your continued interest in The Gospel Coalition.   This past Giving Tuesday, the generosity of believers played a crucial role in advancing our mission—we're now 10 percent of the way to our year-end target of $1,000,000. While we understand that not everyone was able to contribute on Giving Tuesday, we want to invite you to consider making a year-end gift.     Your support helps us spread the message of the gospel and promotes biblical truth to people who need it—around the world. As we approach the new year, we are excited about the opportunities ahead and the positive changes we can make together.   Your contribution, no matter the size, plays a vital role in shaping the future of The Gospel Coalition. Give Now We value your partnership and look forward to what we can create together in 2024 and beyond.   Wishing you a joyful season.   Warm regards,   Sandy Willson Interim President The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO 65205 Unsubscribe

Eternal Life Is Knowing Abba and Jesus, Not Just Loving “Grace”

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Eternal Life Is Knowing Abba and Jesus, Not Just Loving "Grace" SCOTTY SMITH   "The Lord longs and waits to be gracious to you. He will rise up to show you compassion … Blessed are all those who wait for him" (Isa. 30:18).   Heavenly Father, those who know me best would not describe me as a patient, unruffled, cheerful wait-er. Long lines light my short fuse. Delays expose my control idols. Slow traffic triggers my quick irritability. But I am SO thankful waiting is one of your "strong suits," Abba. Hallelujah, thank you, and help us understand the ways we miss and resist a deeper experience of your graciousness. You are perpetually grace-filled toward us, and it is in your grace that we now sit, walk, stand (Rom.5:2), live, and sleep. But knowing you as a kind, gracious, loving Father is different than affirming our salvation is by grace alone through faith alone (Eph.2:8-10). You are calling us to a richer, unrushed intimacy with yourself. That's precisely what we need and want more than anything else. But the way we plan, schedule, and live the month of December wages a war against "unruffled stillness, undisturbed quietness, and unrivaled trust" (Isa.30:15). Father, why am I (why are we) in such a hurry? Why my edginess, constant movement, and noisy heart? I repent, Father. Early in this season of Advent, recalibrate my heart to beat at the pace of grace. What will it profit any of us to give the most awesome Christmas gifts ever, send a record number of Christmas cards, not miss a single party, pageant, event at church, carol singing, wassailing—(whatever that is) … and yet end up exhausted and no closer to you and Jesus? (John 17:3). Thank you for wanting and waiting to give us your gracious self, not just more grace. So Very Amen.   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

TGC Book Awards 2024

See The Winners and Bring Them Home For Christmas

One of the most exciting responsibilities I have as books editor for The Gospel Coalition is overseeing the annual book awards.   This announcement is the culmination of months of hard work by a big team of book lovers. We receive nominations from publishers in 11 categories. Then our editors work together to recommend finalists in each category. Finally, a panel of judges reads each one carefully before casting their votes.   The books are evaluated for the way they offer gospel-centered argument and application; include faithful and foundational use of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament; foster spiritual discernment of contemporary trials and trends; and encourage efforts to unite and renew the church. The result is a list of 22 books we recommend as helpful resources for the church and for individual believers. We hope you enjoy and are edified by them.   Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 TGC Book Awards. VIEW THE WINNERS BRING THEM HOME FOR CHRISTMAS You'll find all the award winners in the TGC store among our Christmas gift guide recommendations. Our carefully curated range of biblically faithful titles are sure to bless your friends and loved ones. As always, we have unbeatable savings on kids' books, devotionals, Bibles, Bible studies, journals, bestsellers, and more. BUY THEM IN THE TGC STORE Blessings, Andrew J. Spencer Books Editor The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO 65205 Unsubscribe

The Peace We Crave from the Favor Jesus Gives

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Peace We Crave from the Favor Jesus Gives SCOTTY SMITH   "Peace to those on whom God's favor rests." Luke 2:14   Lord Jesus, we're just 3 weeks out from Christmas Eve services, when these familiar words will ring out with invitation and great joy, "Peace to those on whom God's favor rests." It's the declaration that makes me want to weep, dance, fall down in worship, get up and dance some more.    Everything our hearts long for, and more than we can imagine, is lovingly jam-packed into the words of the angel who announced your birth. We invest a lot of our time and energy seeking both peace and favor. The problem is, we "set the bar" too low. We are too easily satisfied … and are just as easily dissatisfied. Angling to be seen and known, craving connection, wanting to be wanted, longing to be validated and valued—in a romance that craves us, by children who adore us, through companies that promote us, in a world that celebrates us. But the favor of people will never be enough, and the peace they give is as fleeting as the morning dew. The peace we crave can only be found in the favor you give by the price only you could pay, Jesus. It's what Christmas is all about. It's why you came into our world. From Christmas Eve to Good Friday, your cradle pointed towards your cross. There you took the disfavor we deserve to give us the delight we can't imagine. Jesus, it still overwhelms us to realize you took the disgrace of our sin to give us the full-grace of Abba's delight. You became our sin, that we might receive and become the righteousness of God (2Cor.5:21). And now we live in the unparalleled, unwavering, unfiltered favor of God. We believe, help our unbelief, Jesus. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    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.

First, double your impact before midnight!

Here's the urgent news

View in browser Dear First,   Giving Tuesday is quickly coming to a close. Right now, you have a limited opportunity to make an even greater difference for the gospel—but time is running out!   Here's the urgent news:   Thanks to a generous $25,000 challenge match, every dollar you give before midnight will be doubled. That means your gift will go twice as far in spreading the truth of God's Word, equipping pastors, and transforming lives.   We're almost there—but we need your help to reach our goal. GIVE NOW Imagine the difference your generosity can make. With your support, The Gospel Coalition can: Double the reach of gospel-centered resources that bring clarity and hope in a world filled with confusion Equip twice as many church leaders to stand firm in the truth and lead their communities with confidence Transform more lives by ensuring the life-saving message of Jesus Christ reaches those who need it most But we can't do it without you. This matching opportunity ends at midnight, and we're counting on your support.   Please don't wait—make your gift now to double your impact and help us meet the $25,000 challenge match.   Your prompt action today could change lives tomorrow. Thank you for standing with us on this Giving Tuesday.   With gratitude,   Collin Hansen Vice President for Content and Editor in Chief   PS: We continue to be humbled by the generosity of supporters like you. All this is for the advancement of the kingdom. Thank you for spreading the gospel's message of hope worldwide. As Paul told our Christian brothers and sisters in Rome, "From him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36). The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO 65205 Unsubscribe