“Ya Gotta Trust Somebody. It May Be Abba, Or It May Be….”

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "Ya Gotta Trust Somebody. It May Be Abba, Or It May Be…." SCOTTY SMITH "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" (Prov.3:5)   Heavenly Father, the battle for our heart's love and trust is relentless. As we begin our weekend, we want to reaffirm you as the sure foundation and Gospel-fountain of everything we need—and much more than we could ever hope or imagine. Some trust in their good works and spiritual discipline. But we trust in the finished work of Jesus and the gift of his perfect righteousness. Some trust in their spouse's attention and their children's affection. But we trust in your steadfast love for us and great delight in us. Some trust in their stock portfolios (maybe not THIS morning!) and material possessions. But we trust in the unsearchable riches of Christ and the inviolate treasure being kept for us in heaven. Some trust in being smart, wise, and powerful. But we trust in Jesus, who is our "wisdom from God—that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption." Some trust in being members of special groups, circles, and clubs. But we trust, rest, and rejoice in our "in-Christ-ness"—the union we have with Jesus and fellowship we enjoy with the entire Trinity. Some trust in their standing in "the company" and the community. But we trust in our "standing in grace" and rootedness in your love. Some trust in adventure, newness, and busyness to fill the vacuum and give meaning to life. But we trust in the One who says to us this Friday morning, "Come to me all y'all who are weary, burdened, and broken. I will give you rest, I will give you my peace, and I am praying you'll be filled with my joy." Hallelujah, and 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.

Always Be Asking Questions That Make the Gospel Precious

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Always Be Asking Questions That Make the Gospel Precious SCOTTY SMITH "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Rom. 8:28): My brothers, "you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Gen.50:20).   Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of new mercies today—for we surely need your mercy for ourselves, and for loving others well. For life is all about relationships, as is underscored by the two well-known verses we're praying through today. No relationship matters more than the grace-saturated relationship you have established with us through the Gospel. Hallelujah, and thank you. Secondly, then there's every other relationship we have—the ones we adore, and the ones we endure. Hallelujah, and help us! Pondering these two verses afresh, here are two questions, Abba, I realize we need to be asking all the time—at least a few times a week:   What is the "good" you are bringing—or will bring from our most challenging circumstances and difficult relationships? If we don't ask this question, we'll surely drift into seasons—even years of anger, blaming, medicating our pain, running to escape, micro-managing people … and a more and more distant relationship with you. And there's a 2nd question connected to the 1st.   What does loving and trusting you look like when, like Joseph, we have to wait many years—or even for life in heaven, to see how your hand and heart were always at work for good in things we experience in life—stories of intentional harm, evil, loss, and contradictions to your goodness? What we DO know, Abba, is that in view of your gift of Jesus to us and for us, we can surely trust you for everything else we need today… tomorrow… 7, 14, 21 years from now… and forever 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.

Exciting Announcement for TGC25

More Names Added to Our Worship Team

View in browser HEAR INSPIRING KEYNOTES WORSHIP WITH THOUSANDS EXPERIENCE DEEP CONNECTION Hi First We recently found out that the TGC25 worship band will be even more robust than we expected! The Gettys reached out to share that Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Bryan Fowler will be joining us in Indianapolis in just a few weeks! Soon, thousands of us will be standing shoulder to shoulder, soaking in gospel-centered keynote talks, joining in worshipful singing, and being blessed by unifying fellowship.    Will you join us? SAVE YOUR SEAT I'm counting down the days until we will worship our great God together in Indy!    Ann Westrate Director of Events The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205, Unsubscribe

True Greatness and Astonishing Love

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH True Greatness and Astonishing Love SCOTTY SMITH "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:43–45   Dear Lord Jesus, surely the Gospel is the most counterintuitive, paradigm-shattering, everything-changing force in history. By the "show and tell" of your life, true greatness isn't measured by owning the estate but giving one's life; choosing the low, hidden place—not seeking to be noticed and honored; washing feet not using or controlling anyone. We are humbled, convicted, and astonished by your love, Jesus …   * What a most selfless, gracious Savior you are—you gladly gave your life for us, to redeem and cherish forever as your Bride. * What a faithful, caring Shepherd you are, Jesus—protecting, feeding, loving, and leading us safely Home. * What an incredibly powerful King you are—you defeated the powers of darkness, now rule over the kings of the earth, and are actively making all things new. * What a merciful High Priest you are, Jesus—perpetually interceding for us, never shocked by us, tenderly welcoming us … Jesus, you are always serving us.   We bow before you in wonder, love, and praise. We rise in joy before you—blushing at your love for us, owning our unbelief that you have fully set your affection on us. We humble ourselves before you, Jesus, and ask for grace upon grace to go with into the servant way of life—wherever you have placed us, and anywhere you will send us. 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.

Let’s Stop Making Excuses for Being Easily Offended

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Let's Stop Making Excuses for Being Easily Offended SCOTTY SMITH    "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" to you in the Gospel, and each and every morning (Luke 6:36) "Speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty—that is, as those who are under grace and in Christ, and no longer under the law and in doubt about Abba's love. (James 2:12). "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy"—that is, more of the same mercy they already have been copiously given in Jesus. (Matt.5:7)   Heavenly Father, thank you for being not just any "Dad," but "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2Cor.1:3)—the God of limitless patience, inexhaustible kindness, and incomparable compassion. Instead of giving us what we deserve, you gave us Jesus—who is our perfect "righteousness, holiness, and redemption" (1Cor.1:30). As you extend mercy to us on a daily basis, so you call us to show and share that mercy to others each day. Help us. Free us. Forgive us. We own being easily irritated and effortlessly offended. We're not proud of that, neither will we make excuses. Our memory of how people hurt us is often better than our memory of how lavishly you love us. That's simply not okay. You never said loving well is easy, rather it's the overflow of how you love us in the Gospel. Abba, teach us the difference between having good, healthy boundaries, versus building walls topped with shards of glass and electric barbed-wire. Taking care of ourselves begins (and continues) with blasting our hearts with the Gospel, not demonizing/dodging people we don't like. Love IS costly, yet you "pick up the tab," Abba. 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.