Hating Hate

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Hating Hate SCOTTY SMITH    "I will make peace  your governor and well-being  your ruler. The sounds of  violence  never be heard in your land again. Ruin and destruction won't happen within your borders. Instead, your walls will deserve the name Salvation—for peace will permeate the City. And your gates will be named Praise, not Protection—for my presence will be fully there all the time, on both sides of the gates" (pp Isa. 60:17-18; Rev.21:25)    Lord Jesus, I'm up earlier than normal today—simmering, lamenting, sighing, somewhat angry, definitely sad—weary of madness and meanness in ALL its forms. Rifle shots and drone attacks pillage too many lives. Contemptuous words torch hearts and burn relationships to the ground like a wildfire (James 3:5-6).    Not just on social media between "political non-parties"—but in grocery stores as frustrated mom's publicly humiliate and shame kids, and in the out-of-sight places of sexual abuse, spousal hate, and bullying in all its forms.    How long, O Lord, until you return and put an end to ALL  violence. When will the dawn break on the Day of no more pointing of guns or even pointing of fingers? Jesus, when will " Peace be our governor" and " Well-being our ruler"? I know the answer is in the new heaven and new earth, but can you—will you please hurry up, Lord?    We crave it but can hardly imagine only using our words to praise you and encourage each other. Oh, for the Day we will never again weaponize our disappointments—or even think evil or ill of anyone. We won't "play nice"; we will be 100% holy—wholly like you, Jesus. Until then show us how to live by the Gospel not by the sword—by the way of your cross not by the gracelessness in our hearts. 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.

Forgiven Much? Then Love Much.

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Forgiven Much? Then Love Much. SCOTTY SMITH     Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I'll take revenge; I'll pay them back, says the Lord" (Rom.12:19). "Resentment kills a fool" (Job. 5:2). " Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…" (Eph. 4:31-32). " Love much because you have been forgiven much." (Lk.7:47).    Heavenly Father, help us. We live in a cultural moment of extreme distrust, constant suspicion, and guilt by association. Not every Russian is a land-grabbing communist. Not every social worker is Left, liberal, and "woke." Not all Republicans wear big-lettered red caps and hate immigrants. Not every person who identifies as "Christian" is born again, loves Jesus, seeks his Kingdom's increase more than their country's greatness. Abba, humble us. Gentle us.    Through the power of your Holy Spirit, the resources of the Gospel, and the gift of community—give us big hearts, thick skin, and heavenly wisdom. May the Gospel be more compelling and life shaping than our fears are crippling and meanness-fueling. Don't let our appropriate concerns slide into destructive thoughts, words, and revenge. Getting even never levels the playing field; it heightens the rhetoric, fuels more meanness, and prolongs the conflict.    We don't want our vulnerable hearts to become gardens of deeply rooted bitterness which grow thriving hedges of hate. Free us to build more bridges of grace than we throw grenades of hate. Make Jesus' beauty more defining than our anxieties. We pray for the peace of Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Russia, and the continent of our own hearts. We crave the Day when wolves and lambs will feast together; and Republicans, Independents, Democrats, and None-Of-These will love as Jesus loves 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.

This Kind of Friend Is a Kiss from Heaven

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH This Kind of Friend Is a Kiss from Heaven SCOTTY SMITH    " When we arrived in Macedonia, we were restless and almost running on fumes. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted and encouraged us when Titus showed up. His presence was a joy" (pp 2Cor.7:5-7).    Lord Jesus, the passing stories in the Bible are often deliver eternal blessing.  I'm grateful for this story of a depleted, fearful, conflicted Apostle Paul. I'd never compare my situation to Paul's, but I am feeling my "humanity" plus a deep ache for the Day of all things new.    I'm grateful the Gospel frees us from posing and pretending. It makes us more human, not less. When you slept in a boat with the disciples, it was because you were tired and sleepy, period (Mark 4:38-40). You had friends because you were fully human and enjoyed their company. They weren't projects; they were friends.    I'm particularly grateful today for friends too. You call us your friends, and you give us friends. Though you can meet us in our humanity, weariness, and downcast-seasons through ravens and rainbows, manna and miracles—more often than not you send us to each other. I love how Paul referred to his friend Titus: " His presence was a joy."    Titus' presence was a joy—not a pressure. Titus didn't rebuke Paul for his weariness, merely try to cheer him up, or quote a bunch of Bible verses at him. Jesus, he was a spigot of your kindness in Paul's dry-heart, tired-bones season. Because when you are close, " bruised reeds and smoldering wicks" feel no pressure to straighten up and stand tall or give off a glowing blaze like an ignited fire pit (Matt.12:15-21). Thank you, 10,000 times, over.    Jesus, thank you for our friends who extend your friendship and whose presence we consider a joy. Thank you for being a friend of sinners. Make us that kind of friend as well. It's hard down here Jesus. Thank you for being with us and for us in so many ways. 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.

New 'RECORDED' Episode—The Fatherless Epidemic: Raising Up Men in Urban America

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube

View in browser NEW Episode of RECORDED   The Fatherless Epidemic: Raising Up Men in Urban America Thirteen years ago, pastor Alton Hardy planted a church in an underresourced African American community near Birmingham, Alabama. Alton worried about the crime, poverty, and lack of education he saw around him. But more than that, he worried about families.   And most of all, he worried about fathers.   In 2023, the CDC recorded that 70 percent of African American babies were born to single mothers. Overall, 40 percent of all births in the United States are now to unmarried moms, a number that doubled between 1980 and 2010.   Alton got to work, preaching the gospel, teaching God's design for our lives, and calling young black men to become strong leaders of their churches, homes, and communities.   I can't tell you he's witnessing a wholesale revival. But Alton's church is growing. And for the first time in decades, couples with baby strollers are walking the sidewalks in his community.   This is the story of how the gospel can change a life, a family, and a neighborhood. But it's also a story that can change the way you think about your parents, your kids, and why God loves you. LISTEN NOW RECORDED is TGC's narrative podcast, chronicling a variety of stories of God's redemptive and transformative work. These narratives testify to the beauty of the gospel on display in this generation—in many places and in surprising ways. Whether your faith is strong or struggling, tune in to Recorded for encouraging snapshots of God's faithfulness, nearness, and love. The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Unsubscribe

Gospelbound Returns: New Guests Announced for Fall 2025

Listen to Episode 1 With Keith Getty. Future Episodes Include Rebecca McLaughlin, Christopher Watkin, Justin Giboney, Melissa Kruger, and more . . .

View in browser NEW EPISODES EVERY OTHER TUESDAY Gospelbound is back with more hopeful conversations as we search for firm faith in an anxious age. In each episode we explore how to navigate life by the gospel of Jesus Christ in this era after Christendom. LISTEN TO THE FIRST EPISODE On this episode of Gospelbound we talked about one of the most anticipated releases I can remember, the brand-new Sing! Hymnal (Crossway). In their introduction, Keith and his wife Kristyn write, "Hymns are the heart language of the church, used to sing truth to the Lord and to one another in every season of the soul. This has always been the way. . . . Our hymns hold us, inspire us, comfort us—and form us."   You know Keith Getty as songwriter of some of your most beloved songs. A choir director. A musician. A movement leader. Hopefully you've sung with Keith and Kristyn at one of several TGC national conferences. He joined me on Gospelbound to discuss changes in church music, liturgy, and the legacy of this hymnal.  LISTEN NOW STILL TO COME IN 2025. . .  Rebecca McLaughlin Christopher Watkin Justin Giboney Melissa Kruger Bobby Jamieson Clare Morell SIGN UP TO MY NEW WEEKLY NEWSLETTER  Each week I uncover what others have may have missed or overlooked. With essays, videos, podcasts, and curated links, we'll look for the eternal so we can live with greater hope, joy, wisdom, and love in our time. SUBSCRIBE TODAY The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Unsubscribe