Quotes from Scotty Smith

Dear Jesus, there's no more important or necessary gift we can give our children than to keep on bringing them to you. Whether they're babies, teenagers, or adults themselves, it makes no difference. At every stage of life, our kids need you, Jesus.

I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far. (Phil. 1:23 NIV)

For the gospel is not just good news for people getting ready to die—it's good news for people who are now ready to live.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Prov. 3:5–6)

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8 NIV)

Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. (Prov. 15:31–32 NIV)

Teach us how to be stewards of technology, not slaves to technology. Teach us how to be creative, not cute; faithful, not manipulative; simple, not spectacular. Reel us back in anytime we move away from the "sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3). And let us never forget that you are not seeking "great worship" but true worshipers—those who worship you "in the Spirit and in truth" (John 4:23 NIV).

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:6–8 NIV).

Salvation is not just about going to heaven when we die. It's about becoming like you, Jesus—being transformed into your likeness. Only the resources of the gospel are sufficient for such a task, for we're not just separated from God by a great distance, we are thoroughly broken and corrupted by sin. We need a big gospel for our great need. Indeed, there's nothing more than the gospel, there is just more of the gospel.

It's a dangerous thing to no longer deeply crave fellowship with you, Jesus. It's a deceptive thing to enjoy but no longer actually need you. It's a deceitful thing to be satisfied with correct theology about you, without experiencing rich communion with you. It's a demonic thing to find our ultimate satisfaction in anyone or anything else but you.

Jesus, I've never been less anxious and more ready for your return, but only because of a growing understanding of the gospel. I'm already wearing the right clothes—the wedding garment of your perfect righteousness. I'm no longer afraid of your return. I very much want you to come back—my loving bridegroom. The oil in my lamp will never run dry, for you've sealed me as your own and have sent the Spirit to dwell in my heart forever.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Gal. 5:13–16)

Oh, the joy of knowing your good answers to our prayers include "Yes," "No," "Maybe," "Not yet," and "Not telling you"!

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. (Rom. 15:5)

You see, like many who grew up in church, I once assumed the gospel was simply what non-Christians must believe in order to be saved, and then afterward we advance to deeper theological waters. But Scotty has helped me to realize that once God rescues sinners, his plan is not to steer them beyond the gospel but to move them more deeply into it—that the gospel doesn't simply ignite the Christian life but is also the fuel that keeps Christians going and growing every day.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom. 15:13)

May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Rom. 15:33)

I do and I will yet praise you, my Savior and my God. My hope is in you, Father—for me and for all of my brokenhearted friends. I pray in Jesus' compassionate and victorious name. Amen.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Ps. 34:18)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isa. 53:5 NIV)

They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. (Mark 2:2–4 NIV)

We "get" the gospel the best when we are face down and palms up before you in repentant faith—not in groveling despair, nor in face-saving penance, but in the beauty of repentant faith.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest. (Heb. 4:1–3)

you've called us to live as strangers in this world, not as strange people. If there's to be anything offensive about us, may it only be the gospel of your grace.