The Grace-School of Humility and Gentleness

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Grace-School of Humility and Gentleness SCOTTY SMITH "Learn from me, for I (Jesus) am gentle and humble in heart." Matt. 11:29   Lord Jesus, I wish gentleness and humility could be learned in a weekend online crash-course, or that somebody would create a pill that burned up all "snark," rigid, impatient graceless-cells. But becoming like you involves walking and communing with you, and learning from you in the school of mercy and grace. There's no "diploma," apprenticeship, internship, or graduation of greater value and eternal significance than becoming like you, Jesus. It's, hallelujah, our destiny and your delight. In what arenas of life do I crave greater humility and gentleness? Gentle me in my primary and precious relationships—in my marriage, parenting, grand-parenting, and in my friendships. To get irritated is to be human; but to be self-aware enough to own it, repent, and repair is a work of your Spirit. Gentle me when things just don't work out—when good plans end up in the trash bin. Keep me flexible and trusting you are "ordering my steps" even when I want to be on a different path at a different pace. Gentle me when I get fair and unfair criticism. In fact, free to me welcome feedback and reproof. "To hate correction is stupid" (Prov.12:1). Pride and defensiveness sabotage intimacy as surely as bees make honey and bears eat it. Gentle me when I forget names and where I put stuff, and when traffic is crazy and the fish aren't biting—and when the mirror and calendar are telling me I'm closer to heaven every day. That's actually a good thing—a glorious reality that gives me hope and joy. Jesus, thank you for your grace, gentleness, and sovereignty And thank you for friends who make growing in grace a shared journey, a mutual encouragement-fest, and a life of joyful hope. 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.

Top Talks from TGC25—See Our Most Popular Breakouts

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View in browser Hi First!   We've been reading through feedback from the TGC25 attendees and we're noticing a trend. These were some of the favorite breakout sessions: Attendees LOVED the keynotes at TGC25 —and you can still watch these encouraging sessions from Ephesians. Why not start with John Piper on Ephesians 1? For $39 you can gain unlimited access to all seven keynotes and more than 45 breakout sessions, today!     I hope the Lord encourages and equips you through this content, for his glory.    Ann Westrate Director of Events   WATCH TGC25 NOW The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205, Unsubscribe

The Heart and Art of Redemptive Conflict

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH The Heart and Art of Redemptive Conflict SCOTTY SMITH "Act in line with the truth of the gospel..." Gal. 2:14   Dear Jesus—as you know, some of us are conflict allergic, others, conflict addicted, and some are conflict ambivalent. But all of us need to grow the heart and learn the art of redemptive conflict. To conflict is human; to conflict redemptively is "gospelicious." Healthy conflict is a demonstration of the riches of grace and the reconciling power of your love. Paul's conflict with Peter in Galatia is both a gift to us and a pattern for us. Paul confronted his fellow apostle and friend because his attitude and actions contradicted the Gospel. In a momentary lapse, Peter gave in to the fear of man, peer pressure, and a love-failure (Gal.2:11-21). Peter didn't "act in line with the truth of the Gospel"; but Paul did so in response to Peter's failure. Indeed, the Gospel doesn't call us to give people a pass, but give them your grace. The Gospel doesn't call us to shame anyone; but to build them up—often by taking them down "a notch." The Gospel doesn't call us to "play nice," but to "faith expressing itself in love" (Gal.5:6). Sometimes loving well involves receiving and giving "severe mercy." Help us Jesus, big time. Teach us how to receive feedback humbly, non-defensively, and gratefully. And teach us how to give feedback clearly, firmly, and lovingly. May our love for you always be bigger than our fear of people, fear of "boat-rocking"—fear of losing a job or friendship. Some of us need to humble ourselves, and seek feedback from peers, bosses, and others. Free us, Jesus. Some of us need to find courage to give feedback to peers, bosses, and others. Free us even more, 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.

Loving From Not For the Love of Jesus

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Loving From Not For the Love of Jesus SCOTTY SMITH "Dear friends, since God loved us THAT much—so much that he gave Jesus to save us, we surely ought to love each other" (1Jn.4:11)   Lord Jesus, nothing is more daily than our relationships—beginning with your relationship with us. Because of what you have done for us, we live under this glorious declaration, "No condemnation for your sin remains" (Rom.8:1), and this forever-flying flag, "His banner over me is love," and this permanent state of freedom, "You are no longer under the demands of the law, but forever in the delights of grace" (Rom.6:14). Though it will take heaven to perfect our love for you, your love for us is as all-out, full-fledged, and un-wavering as it will ever be. Hallelujah, and thank you. While it's true that hurt people hurt other people; there's a greater truth we want our lives to demonstrate: Those whom Jesus loves seek to love others with the same love (Jn.13:34-35). Jesus, you never promised us conflict-free, always-connected, never-disappointing relationships this side of heaven. But you have promised us we'll never experience a Jesus-absent day, or a morning that doesn't begin with Abba's new mercies, or an afternoon and evening not filled with the Spirit proclaiming our belovedness. Hallelujah, and thank you. Jesus, make our awareness of your love for us 100 times greater than our awareness of how people love us "incompletely"—and how we "return the favor." We don't have a single relationship beyond the need and reach of your grace. Forgive us for under-believing the Gospel and over-believing the worst of any of us. Free us from relating to others more out of our insecurities than out of our in-Christ-ness. Help us, Jesus. Free us. Heal us. Then free and heal us some more. Thank you for securing the Day we will be made perfect in love (1Jn.4:17-18). 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.

Pray and Care for the Servants of Jesus

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Pray and Care for the Servants of Jesus SCOTTY SMITH    Jonah grew disgusted and angry, "spewing" to the Lord, "Isn't this what I told you before you sent me to Nineveh? You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; but I didn't want you to be that way to the barbaric Assyrians. So take my life from me, Lord, for I'd rather die than deal with the implications and traumas of serving you." Paraphrase of Jonah 4:1–3    Lord Jesus, there are many men and women in vocational ministry that "get" Jonah's weariness, disgust, anger, and extreme  conflictedness. Today we pray for missionaries and pastors, worship leaders and counselors, teachers and youth leaders—whose stories are different than Jonah's, but who have "booked tickets for Tarshish."    Many of them reflect Jonah's state of heart. In their heads they still own a theology of grace and sovereignty. But in their hearts, they are disconnected and disillusioned, angry and confused. As the " true and greater Jonah," you alone know the whole story. You know what's under their anger, compounding their contempt, and fueling their flight. Like the Apostle Paul, they carry traumas inflicted by non-believers, believers, and by the devil himself (2Cor.11:23-33).    Jesus, comfort them with your compassion, refresh them by your Spirit, and provide the counsel they need. Free them from self-pity and from medicating their pain foolishly. Tune their hearts to hear the music of the Gospel more clearly than the lies of the devil, and their own  grace-void narration.    Until you return, Satan will relentlessly attack servants of the Gospel. He'll do anything and everything within his power to bring havoc, heartache, and "hell" to them and their families. Quicken us to pray, and show us how to serve and encourage them, Jesus. Make your beauty, love, presence, and return increasingly precious to all of 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.

Beholding King Jesus in All His Beauty

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Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Beholding King Jesus in All His Beauty SCOTTY SMITH "Your eyes will see the king in all his beauty" Isa.33:17a   "One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4    "All of us who see, savor, and contemplate the Lord's glory—Jesus' beauty, perfections, and magnificence, are being transformed to be increasingly like him. This is the work of Jesus by his Spirit." Paraphrase of 2Cor.3:18   Lord Jesus, I've asked you for many things over the years, for you are a most loving and generous Savior, who welcomes our asks. Hallelujah, and thank you. Among the many things I am still trusting you for, I increasingly long to behold more of your beauty, Jesus—your heart-inflaming, knee-buckling, life-giving loveliness. You give me air to breath only a daily basis, Jesus, but take my breath away with a heart-sighting of your matchless splendor, radiance, and beauty. The heck with merely "appreciating" you; we want to adore you—to be undone and overwhelmed with you, Jesus. We want what Paul celebrated when he called you his life (Phil.1:21), desired to be with you in heaven (Phil.1:23), sought to know you more fully and intimately (Phil.3:10). That's what I ask for myself, and my praying friends. Heal the eyes of our hearts—take away the astigmatism, cataracts, our myopia—whatever keeps us from seeing you as you truly are, Jesus. Reorder our longings, free us from our obsessions, capture and fill our hearts afresh with yourself, Jesus. We long for the Day when we will see you as you are, and we will be made like you (1 John 3:1-3). 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.