Staying Alive to the Love of Jesus Impacts All Our Relationships

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Staying Alive to the Love of Jesus Impacts All Our Relationships SCOTTY SMITH    "Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21 ).    "Her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love for me has just affirmed, Simon. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little ." (pp Luke 7:47)    Lord Jesus, like Isreal when you were born, we have wanted (still want?) a Messiah that would bless us politically, economically, and socially. By nature, we want status and security more than we are desperate for salvation. But first and foremost, you came to save us from our sins—sin's guilt, shame, dominion, penalty, its lovelessness and Scrooge-heartedness—its very existence in us and around us. Thank you!    To be saved isn't to earn anything, but to receive everything by grace. To name a few things: Total forgiveness and Christ's righteousness, "belovedness" through adoptions into God's family and irrevocable citizenship in heaven. Wow!    Jesus, the sanest (Gospel-sane) person in the world should then ask: "How can I show my gratitude for so great a salvation and all these grace-riches?"  We do not have to guess. Those who have forgiven much love much—not perfectly, but persistently and as a priority. We are to love you and others as you love us in the Gospel (Jn.13:34-35)— NOT  love others as others love us.    So, Lord Jesus, with Christmas 2025 upon us—our ask is simple and supernatural—for only you can do this. First, return us and keep us in a state of being SO alive to your love for us that our love for you will go from warm to chilly embers to a stoked and roaring blaze. Second, give us Gospel eyes, a heart of grace, and Holy Spirit compassion for others—those easy to love, challenging to love, and impossible for us to love apart from you. Thank you in advance, 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

Never a Jesus-Absent Day All the Way Home

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Never a Jesus-Absent Day All the Way Home SCOTTY SMITH  "O little town of Bethlehem Ephrathah … "he who has ever-lived—God's promised Messiah will come from you … In time, he will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord and the majesty of God's name. His lambs will live securely; and his greatness will reach the ends of the earth. He will be our peace ." (pp Micah 5:2, 4–5)    Lord Jesus, Micah's prophecy of your coming simply adds to the long list of reasons we adore and trust you. Today we're especially moved to worship you for being the Shepherd-Savior you are to us. Having laid down your life as the Lamb of God, you arose to be our "Standing Shepherd"—relentlessly, tenderly, faithfully caring for us. Thank you for nourishing, feeding and resting us in green pastures of grace—even when other pastures in life are lifeless, grace-void, and difficult.    Because of your great love for us, we don't have everything we want, but we lack nothing we need. Because you are Immanuel, we don't have  to be afraid of anything or anyone, anytime or anywhere. This doesn't mean you promise a pain-free journey Home; but you do promise (Hallelujah!) we'll never experience a Jesus-absent day. May your perfect love continues to shrink our worries and drive out our fears (1 John 4:18).    Jesus, we SO look forward to the Day when your "greatness will reach to the ends of the earth"—the Day when all things will be new and beautiful and nothing will be broken or unredeemed. However right now and forever, you are our peace; for you are 100% our "righteousness, holiness, and redemption" (1 Cor.1:30). And you give us peace—by the sovereignty of your current reign and the hope of your glorious return. Thank you, 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

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View in browser Dear First,   When the world feels noisy, chaotic, and uncertain, we all long for something unchanging—something true.   The gospel of Jesus Christ offers that clarity. It provides the truth and grace that our world desperately needs. Today, on Giving Tuesday, you can help equip believers everywhere with theologically-rich, gospel-centered content.   Your gift helps TGC reach hearts and minds with resources rooted in truth. Will you join us?   Thanks to a generous partner, your gift today will be matched, dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000. Please help us reach our matching gift goal by making a tax-deductible donation now.    Double your gift and stand firm in gospel clarity.    Let's hold fast together.   Gratefully,   Mark Vroegop President, The Gospel Coalition Double Your Gift Today P.S. As we hold fast to the gospel, we're stepping boldly into the future God has prepared. Click here to see our three-year vision for how your partnership helps anchor more lives in the truth of God's Word.  The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO,65205   The Gospel Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.   Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

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The gospel still holds. Will you help proclaim it today?

View in browser Dear First,   When the world feels noisy, chaotic, and uncertain, we all long for something unchanging—something true.   The gospel of Jesus Christ offers that clarity. It provides the truth and grace that our world desperately needs. Today, on Giving Tuesday, you can help equip believers everywhere with theologically-rich, gospel-centered content.   Here's a quick video where I explain the impact Giving Tuesday can have on our ministry. Your gift helps TGC reach hearts and minds with resources rooted in truth. Will you join us?   Thanks to a generous partner, your gift today will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $35,000. Please help us reach our matching gift goal by making a tax-deductible donation now.  Double your gift and stand firm in gospel clarity. Let's hold fast together.   Gratefully,   Mark Vroegop President, The Gospel Coalition Give to TGC today P.S. As we hold fast to the gospel, we're stepping boldly into the future God has prepared. Click here to see our three-year vision for how your partnership helps anchor more lives in the truth of God's Word.  The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO,65205   The Gospel Coalition is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.   Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

A Need So Great and A Craving So Intense Only Jesus Is Enough

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH A Need So Great and A Craving So Intense Only Jesus Is Enough SCOTTY SMITH "Peace to those on whom God's favor rests." Luke 2:14    Lord Jesus, how can it be? We're just a tad over 3 weeks from Christmas Eve—the night angels broke forth with this everything-changing proclamation: " Peace to  those on whom God's favor rests." Simultaneously the "heavenly host" was heralding your birth and a reality nearly impossible for us to imagine. The two go hand in hand.    Everything our hearts crave is crammed into this one doxological declaration. We want favor—to be desired and delighted in, forever validated and perpetually celebrated. But most of the time we look for favor in people, circumstances, and things that cannot possibly fulfill the depth of our J esus-shaped craving. We look to stuff like:    A romance that craves us and children who adore us. Companies that promote us and groups that honor us. More friends who "get" us and less people who judge us. More signs of wealth and less signs of aging. More control over others and less disappointment from others… among many, many other destined-to-fail wannabe Jesus-substitutes.    The favor we crave can only be found in the peace you can give by the price that you paid. It's what Christmas is all about. It's why you came into our world. Christmas Eve's cradle and Good Friday's cross speak louder than 10,000 heavenly hosts of the greatness of our need and the even-greater-ness of your grace. Jesus, you took the disfavor we deserve to give us the delight we cannot imagine. Hallelujah!    You are 100% of our "righteousness, holiness, and redemption" (1Cor.1:30). You fill the Grand Canyon of our need with the fullness of who you are. That's why, and only why, we can be certain of living in the unparalleled, unwavering, unfiltered favor of God. We believe, help our unbelief, Jesus. We love you; we want to love you SO much more. 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

If Jesus Is Near Joy Is Just As Near

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH If Jesus Is Near Joy Is Just As Near SCOTTY SMITH    "Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit, loudly exclaimed to Mary: 'Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child (Jesus) you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby (John the Baptist) in my womb leaped for joy !'"  Luke 1:41-44    Lord Jesus, Oh what holy mystery and deep encouragement this story generates. Both John the Baptist and you were still in your mother's wombs, but your presence fueled John's joy. This is astonishing but consistent with who you've eternally been, because " the fullness of joy abounds" anywhere you are (Ps.16:11).    It's the same joy you pray we will experience in full measure (John 17:13)—the joy you produce in us by your Spirit (Gal.5:22-23)—a joy that makes room for the sorrows of life in our broken world and intense longings for the Day of all things new. For Jesus, you were simultaneously a man of sorrows (Isa.53:1) and anointed with the oil of joy above everyone else (Heb.1:9).    There's no contradiction in this—just comfort, along with great freedom and deep hope. Joy inhabits our sorrows and grief; it doesn't replace them. Our tears become the heart-water of compassion, not angry expressions of self-pity. Indeed, gladness and sadness are Gospel-sisters, not fighting cousins. The Apostle Paul understood this, describing himself and his friends as those who are "sorrowful but always rejoicing" (2Cor.6:10).    So, December 2025 we're under zero pressure to be "up" all the time; neither are we to consider joy as optional, a matter of temperament, or reserved for your return. Jesus, grant us a December marked by a core of joy as we ponder your two comings, and hearts of compassion for others all around 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.