Kingdom Yeast Doesn’t Have an Expiration Date

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Kingdom Yeast Doesn’t Have an Expiration Date SCOTTY SMITH “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” Matt. 13:33    Lord Jesus, with fresh sourdough bread being delivered to my home this morning, your illustration about Kingdom-yeast is timely and encouraging. A little yeast (sourdough-starter) mixed into 3 measures of wheat (50 pounds) will yield about 60 loaves of bread—(what a disproportionate outcome). This story is awesome on many levels.    It’s a parable of trust and hope. This woman trusted in the permeating, transforming power of yeast. Her hope wasn’t wishful thinking, but patient anticipation. You call us to the same patient anticipation with regard to the advancing of the Gospel and growth of your Kingdom. There is NO chance you won’t finish the work you began, Jesus.    As Bread from Heaven and the Bread of Life (John 6:22-29), your Kingdom-yeast is the starter, middler, finisher of God’s grand story of redemption, restoration, and new creation. Unlike those little yellow packets of yeast we keep in our refrigerators, there’s no expiration date on Kingdom-yeast. Jesus we don’t always see it, but you are presently making all things new and beautiful.    We are waiting on tiptoes with joy (sometimes flatfooted with vexation) for the fullness of your Kingdom to arrive in our broken world. On a cosmic and “glocal” level (local + global), we are ready for the fiefdoms of men to collapse under the weightiness, perfection, and beauty of your Kingdom.    On a personal level, Jesus, give us the same trust and hope for our hearts and relationships. Your Kingdom is within us and among us (Lk.17:21). Knead more of your grace into our very real needs. We are ready to be 100% like you, Jesus. And we are ready for your Spirit’s work to be complete in the lives of our loved ones and our web of relationships. As our “Potter,” “Baker,” Savior, and King, we yield to your heart, hands, and timetable. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition 8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard,  Suite 220 Indianapolis,  IN  46250  United States 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.

Our New Heart Isn’t a Perfected Heart Yet

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Our New Heart Isn’t a Perfected Heart Yet SCOTTY SMITH    “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26    Gracious Father, when you brought us from death to life in Jesus, you gave us the “new heart” you promised through your servant-son Ezekiel. You also gave us the permanent indwelling of your Spirit, the riches of grace, your unwavering favor, and the certainty that one Day we will be like Jesus.    One Day our new heart will only beat for Jesus’ glory. We will love with Jesus’ affection and overflow with his joy. Never again will we have to pray David’s prayer, “Lord, give me an undivided heart…” (Psalm 86:11). Never again will we sing, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Hallelujah!    Everything deceitful in our hearts will be forever gone (Jer. 17:9). The thoughts of our hearts (Prov. 23:7) and words of our mouths (Luke 6:45) will only honor you and bless others. We’ll never have to guard our hearts again (Prov. 4:23) because it will be impossible for us to sin or even be tempted. We will be completely healed, whole, and loving. Whew! Glory! Hasten that Day!    Until then, keep us wise Father, for our new heart is not a perfected heart. Vestiges of our “stony heartedness” remain and we’re still “infectible.” Indeed, we’re not condemnable; but we are “contaminable.” Abba, heal us, convict us, change us, and keep us healthy. Keep those daily mercies coming (Lam.3:22-23) your endless supply of grace upon grace (Jn.1:16), because … Envy is heart rabies Greed is idol rocket fuel Ingratitude is soul cancer Discontent is peace poison Harshness is relationship Eboli Resentment is spiritual Malaria Judgmentalism is grace-amnesia We will not live afraid; but we will live close to Jesus. Thank you, Abba. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition 8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard,  Suite 220 Indianapolis,  IN  46250  United States 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.

Keep TGC resources free for millions

Stand behind gospel-centered resources that stay free—for everyone, everywhere. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

View in browser Good afternoon First,   The Gospel Coalition exists to keep the gospel of Jesus Christ central in the church—upheld with clarity and conviction in a world full of confusion and noise.   Every article, podcast, and resource we produce is free, and it stays that way because of faithful partners who stand behind this ministry month after month. I'm writing to invite you to join them.   TGC Collective is our community of monthly partners committed to renewing and unifying the church. Your monthly gift is the bedrock and foundation that sustains this ministry and puts trusted, gospel-centered resources into the hands of Christians worldwide. Join TGC Collective Today As a heartfelt thank-you for being part of TGC Collective, we’re delighted to share meaningful resources with you throughout your time in the community: A free book from our curated TGC collection Discounts on TGC conferences and cohort experiences First-look access to new TGC content Digital downloads, behind-the-scenes updates, and webinar invitations A personal link to our ministry team for prayer and encouragement Will you become a monthly partner at $25, $50, or $100? Your steady support keeps gospel-centered resources free for millions, advancing the truth in the church and around the world. Join TGC Collective Today Gratefully,   Stephen Schindler Vice President of Development The Gospel Coalition     Want to talk before committing? For more information about TGC Collective, contact Stephen Schindler at giving@thegospelcoalition.org. The Gospel Coalition 8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard, Suite 220 Indianapolis, IN 46250   Take control of your inbox Manage your preferences and choose which newsletters you want to receive or unsubscribe from all emails.

Whine Less Worship More

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Whine Less Worship More SCOTTY SMITH “Behold, I am making all things new! (Rev.21:5). “ Let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).    Lord Jesus, you don’t just call us to encourage one another on a daily basis, but to do so with hearts filled with anticipation, joy, and hope. Our future is WAY beyond our greatest dreams, anything we can imagine, and everything we have ever thought about heaven. Lest we forget, what are a few realities we can look forward to on tiptoes with joy? We will see you as you are, Jesus, and instantly we will become as 100% as loving and as lovely as you—astonishing, but true. (1 John 3:1-3). It will be impossible for us to ever sin again and only possible for us to love. The expiration date on all evil, sin, brokenness, and sickness will arrive. There won’t be just the elimination all of our pain, wounds, and sorrows—but also their redemption. Every relationship we have will be perfect—no exceptions. We’ll have an every-nation family as numerous as the stars, sand, and dust—and we’ll love each other as much as you love us. It will be like the Garden of Eden on Gospel-steroids—for you aren’t making all new things, but all things new. Every longing you’re written into our DNA of your image bearers, and everything you’ve planned for us before the world began will come to fruition and fulfillment. Hallelujah times a gazillion!   How then shall we live until then, Jesus? Life is too short and the end of our Story too glorious for us to stay preoccupied with our little fiefdoms of “ me-myself-and-I.” May we vex less and rejoice more—living and loving as those “on mission”—supporting the work of the Gospel at home and around the world. May our intentional encouragements outnumber our thoughtless criticisms 10 to 1. May we love you more than we ever have, Jesus. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition 8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard,  Suite 220 Indianapolis,  IN  46250  United States 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.

Delight In Honoring Each Other

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Delight In Honoring Each Other SCOTTY SMITH   “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them … Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other … Live in harmony with each other …  Do all you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:9-10,16,18   Lord Jesus, thank you for the look, smell, wonder, and beauty of the relationship culture described in the verses above. No pretense, just grace in the present tense. Kindness, encouragement, and delight abounding—enveloped in a soundtrack of mercy, honor, and affection on repeat play.    Is this the life of heaven? Yes! For it takes the riches of heaven to cultivate hearts, marriages, and friendships that look like this. We won’t do it perfectly till heaven, but you call us to live and love like this right now. We can choose kindness over crustiness, humility over haughtiness, encouragement over resentment, curiosity over criticism, blessing over cursing—reminding each other of the Gospel WAY more than we remind each other of our failures.    It’s loving as you love us, Jesus. At the end of this very brief life none of us will say, “I’m SO glad I nursed those grudges and fertilized my roots of bitterness. I didn’t win the lottery, but I was awesome at taking things way too personally, assuming the worst of everyone, blaming and shaming, and pouting—I was especially good at pouting.”    Jesus, when you return and we behold the staggering fullness of your beauty, grace, and goodness—none of us are going to congratulate ourselves for being small-hearted, grace-misers. Relationships are complex, but your grace IS sufficient. It’s hard down here, but even as our feet remain planted on the earth, we are already seated in the heavenlies in you (Eph.2:6). Jesus, increasingly free us to live and love to your glory.  So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition 8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard,  Suite 220 Indianapolis,  IN  46250  United States 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.

Hands On Awesomeness

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

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Hands On Awesomeness SCOTTY SMITH   “When I saw Jesus, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “ Do not be afraid . I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and now look—I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys  of death and the grave” (and of everything else) . Rev.1:17-18    Lord Jesus, what a kiss from heaven this passage is. The Apostle John knew well, and yet you wanted him to know you much better—especially in a difficult season of life. You will and do the same for us. We are eternally secure in your grasp (Jn.10:28-30), and yet you “place your right hand on us” when we need to experience your nearness and grace in times of vulnerability and fear. Hallelujah, and thank you.    Indeed, the keys that matter most aren’t in the hand of chance, cancer, calamities, or earthly kings. The keys to “death and the grave,” providence and pain, history and hope are securely in your hand, Jesus. We don’t have to fear getting older, the politics of mere men, the next chapter in our stories, or anything else. Not just because you have the keys, but because you are the key, Jesus—the source, sum, substance, sustainer, “song,” and Savior. ALL authority in heaven and on earth belong to you (Matt. 28:18). Whew! Amen! And Hallelujah!    The implications of these affirmations are magnificent, fear-sabotaging, and hope-fueling. You have the keys, the steering wheel, the chosen route, the glorious destination, and the perfectly timed arrival date. Forgive us for whining like 4-year-olds in the back seat, as we murmur, “Are we there yet?” Jesus, in July 2026 you are actively redeeming your every-nation Bride, making all things new, making your enemies your footstool (Ps.110:1), and working in all things for our good— no exceptions. 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 8520 Allison Pointe Boulevard,  Suite 220 Indianapolis,  IN  46250  United States 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.