When We REALLY Need Jesus to Be Jesus

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When We REALLY Need Jesus to Be Jesus SCOTTY SMITH    " Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Eph 4:32), now loves you (Zeph.3:17), and will finish his work in you" (Phil1:6). " Because Christ is your life and his glory defines your forever" (Col.3:4), " have brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind" toward each other (I Pet. 3:8).    Lord Jesus, this tapestry of Scriptures falls squarely in the category of "things impossible for man are possible with God" (Matt.19:26). Now we could dumb-down these words to merely mean, "be a polite, well-mannered, don't embarrasses-your-parents Southerner." But that's certainly not what you have in mind. We are to love others as you love us, period. Have mercy, Lord, have mercy—and you do as this day begins and will continue.    If you asked us the question Abba asked Jonah a bunch of years ago: "Do you have a good reason to be angry?" (Jon.4:4). We might respond, "Yes, I have every right to be angry" (Jon.4:9). Though many of us have really good reasons to be angry today, a good reason to be angry and a right to be angry aren't the same thing. A "right" to be angry isn't too far upstream from a "license to kill."    A good reason to be angry doesn't give us the right to "repay in kind," but to be kind and repay with grace (1Pet.3:9, 1Thess.5:15, Rom.12:17-21). That's not emotional crazy-making or abusive over-expectation; it's your life for us, in us, and through us. Help us, Jesus.    "Help us" like you "helped" the Red Sea to part, and Lazarus to walk out of his tomb alive. Help us like you helped the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the demonized to be free. We're that clueless, helpless, and powerless when it comes to loving as you love us, 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.

Still Hurting Is One Thing; Weaponizing the Hurt Is Another

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Still Hurting Is One Thing; Weaponizing the Hurt Is Another SCOTTY SMITH     " Love your enemies, do  good to them. Such counter-intuitive, revolutionary kindness will confirm you to be daughters and sons of Abba—the Most High God. For he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (pp Lk.6:35-36).    Heavenly Father, I'll resist the temptation to qualify and "Yes, but" these verses to death. Rather, I want to marinate in and marvel at and the greatness of your mercy and grace for us in Jesus. Your mercies are daily, and your grace is measureless—this is stunning, but tragically easy to take for granted. If there is such a thing as being "re-awed," re-awe us Abba.    You are kind to the "ungrateful and wicked." We have no problem owning our ingratitude—for we indulge it every day. But in what ways are we " wicked ," Father? What could be more wicked than for us to be 100% forgiven by you, be 100% robed in Jesus' righteousness, have 100% of your favor resting on us, and have 100% of the new heaven and new earth as our inheritance … YET to continue to nurse grudges, harbor resentments, hold people hostage to the ways they have failed and hurt us? Struggling to forgive is one thing; purposing not to forgive is another. Still hurting is one thing; weaponizing the hurt is another.    Father, you understand the messes we're in; but you also understand we're more " in Christ" than we're "in" anything else. Many of us are involved in testy and testing relationships that have history and require wisdom. Your kindness first led us to repentance, and it still does. Our hardness and harshness will only lead in the opposite direction. Help and free us, 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. Take control of your inbox. Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

Abba Is Our “Father of Compassion and God of All Comfort”

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Abba Is Our "Father of Compassion and God of All Comfort" SCOTTY SMITH    " When my 'heart-cares' are many—my anxieties, stressors, and fears—your deep empathy and unparalleled comfort delight my innermost being." (pp Ps. 94:19)    Heavenly Father, we carry many types and sizes of "cares" in life—small, mid-size, and large ones. We have cares related to weather fronts (fixin' to ice-n-snow here in Franklin, Tn), our sports teams, aging skin, pet training—we can turn anything into a care. But the most critical cares we have are " heart-cares "—crises, stories, and relational matters that impact our innermost being.    Abba, it's scary down here right now—a teetering world, fragile health, an unknown future, and known heartaches—as our "Father of compassion and God of all comfort" (2Cor.1:3), no one is more committed to giving us the care we need and catching the cares we cast (1Pet.5:7). Your empathy and comfort bring us delight like oxygen "delights" gasping lungs, like water "consoles" dehydration, and food "encourages" the starving. In other words, Abba, your kindness and care aren't an add-on but our everything.    On this January Wednesday, we cast every heart-care we can possibly hurl on you or leave with you. For the ones we have a hard time letting go of, Abba, pry them from our white-knuckled grip; and when we try to grab them back, slap our hands. For the ones just too heavy for us to lift to your throne of grace, send sisters and brothers with burden-bearing love and biceps.    This isn't just "the day you have made," 2026 is the year you planned before the world began. You aren't nervously pacing from afar; you are peacefully reigning up close (Eph.1:11).  You are so loving, faithful, sovereign, and kind, Abba. Hallelujah, thank you, 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.

Learn How Augustine, C. S. Lewis, and Sayers Apply in Your Context

Sign Up for a New Cohort by The Keller Center Fellows

View in browser LEARN FROM ATHANASIUS, AUGUSTINE, PASCAL, BAVINCK, LEWIS, SAYERS, AND NEWBIGIN Thursdays, March 26 to May 7 To effectively engage culture today, we need faithful models from the past. We're not the first generation to discern cultural idols and present the gospel as a better alternative. For two millennia, God has raised up inspiring and insightful Christian leaders and apologists who still speak into our own cultural moment.    In this 7-week cohort by fellows of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, we'll explore the enduring insights of key thinkers across Christian history—from the early church to the modern era. Consider these three examples from the cohort's seven weeks: Through Augustine, we'll learn how to diagnose prominent cultural worldviews and offer Christianity as the better fulfillment of our deepest longings.  Taking Pascal as our guide, we'll explore how to help non-Christians want the gospel to be true even before they fully understand it as good news.  Inspired by Newbigin, we'll seek another missionary encounter with the West.  Join leading experts on these models from the past as they help us apply time-tested insights for today's changing world. WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN UP TODAY Grow in knowledge of Christian history and thought-leaders who have shaped Christian mission Understand the cultural contexts that drove these figures to proclaim the gospel in the way they did Apply the timeless concepts of their practice to our contemporary moment I hope to see you there!   Collin Hansen Executive Director for the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics REGISTER NOW YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN Upcoming cohorts by TGC The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Take control of your inbox Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

What Does Heaven Smell Like?

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH What Does Heaven Smell Like? SCOTTY SMITH    "Have mercy on me , O God, according to your steadfast love; According to your abundant mercy blot out my  transgressions.( Ps. 51:1). " Forgive as God in Christ has forgiven you" (Eph.4:32).    Heavenly Father, these are a few of my favorite aromas: Sour dough bread just before it exits the over, a stand of spruce trees after a rain, and fine dark chocolate ganache. Thank you for each. But you seem to enjoy the aroma of genuine humility—for it's a theme that runs throughout your Word.    Whenever we offer you and each other a broken and contrite heart—not only do you not despise it, but you also delight in it (Ps. 51:17). It's the aroma of grace, the fragrance of the Gospel, the cologne of heaven. Few things are as sweet-smelling as a genuine apology offered and extravagant forgiveness extended.    Maybe that's where we can hear you singing and rejoicing over us the loudest (Zeph.3:17)—when we sinner-saints meet before Jesus' cross, empty tomb, and occupied throne—needing, extending, and receiving the riches of your grace from each other.    Father, your mercies are new every morning because we need them every day—certainly for ourselves, but also to give to each other. We only live with imperfect people. We only know yet-to-be-glorified believers—just like ourselves. We do and will hurt each other until heaven. But we don't have to live allergic to humility and be miserly with your grace. That smells worse than a middle-school boys locker room. Have mercy of us, on me, indeed.    Each of us has relationships that desperately needs the life-giving aroma of your reconciling love. Help us, free us to offer the fragrant treasure of the Gospel through these fragile jars of clay we inhabit. We will only live to regret being stingy with grace. We will never regret being generous with your love. 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.

Out of the Shadow of Shame into the Radiance of Joy

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Out of the Shadow of Shame into the Radiance of Joy SCOTTY SMITH    " I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Jesus for help will be radiant with joy and no shadow of shame will darken their faces." Psalm 34:4-5    Lord Jesus, thank you 10,000 times over for the good news contained in this passage. Like all Scripture—you fulfill it. In our bouts with fear and shame, we are way too slow to look to you. Why? That's what shame does—we fear making "eye contact and we fear being seen. But you always and only greet us with compassion, mercy, and grace upon grace— always.    You know everything we know about ourselves, Jesus—and the other 98.6% as well. It's not that you keep record—but you know all the ways we think, speak, and act in ways that contradict your perfect love. It's not that you've grown indifferent to our brokenness; it's that you're never less than our wonderful, merciful Savior. Hallelujah!    Because we are yours, we have zero unforgiven sins. We no longer wear the burden of guilt but the robe of your righteousness. We no longer live in the shadow of shame but in the light of your delight. We have nothing to prove just your grace to enjoy. An even bigger Hallelujah! than the last one.    Hasten the Day when we'll never again be tempted to sin, doubt your love, and under-believe the Gospel. Rush-deliver the Day we'll be "radiant with joy" perpetually—not just occasionally. Put the " pedal to the metal," finish making all things new, and usher in the new heaven and new earth. We are SO ready to be like you and with you, Lord 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.