Quotes from Scotty Smith

Don't let me wander far. When I lose sight of Jesus, make the gall more galling, make the bitterness more bitter, make downcast feel even more downcast. I don't want to ever get used to feeling disconnected from the gospel.

Certainly gospel sanity is to be preferred over personal vanity, all the time.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Col. 3:13 NIV)

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. (1 Pet. 1:22–23)

Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. (Heb. 13:9–10)

Father, because of past grace, present grace, and future grace, I want to live with bowed knees and palms up toward you. I seek to worship other things less by loving you more.

You chose us by your foreknowledge, redeemed us by your Son, and set us apart by your Spirit to demonstrate the reconciling and redeeming power of the gospel in cities and among the nations of the world. Indeed, 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.

Jesus, take my humble praise and purify it, magnify it, and cause it to be a sweet aroma in your heart.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" (Matt. 16:22 NIV)

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isa. 9:7)

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4–7 NIV)

Jesus, forgive me for ever thinking that you've forgotten about me, don't really care about me, or have even abandoned me. I confess that sometimes, especially when life seems the hardest, loneliest, most unfair, and most broken, I entertain these foolish, unfounded, disbelieving notions.

The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." (Gen. 4:6–7)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Col. 3:15 NIV)

By the same Spirit who brought new life to our hearts, extend new life through us into the world. We pray in Jesus' beautiful name. Amen.

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (Isa. 43:1–3)

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor. 4:4)

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Prov. 16:9 NIV)

Why not us, Jesus, and why not now? We're tired of playing church. We're bored with ourselves. Magnify your name in our midst and in this hour. We pray in your most majestic and merciful name. Amen.

Jesus, I thank you for the gift of another day. Please fill my gaze with your beauty, my mind with your truth, and my heart with more of the gospel—much more of the gospel. If the main strategy of the kingdom of darkness is to keep unbelievers in the dark about the gospel of your glory and grace, why would I think evil would choose some other tactic for believers? So as I pray for my unbelieving friends today, I also pray for myself.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Rev. 1:5–6 NIV)

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. (Ps. 85:6–7 NIV)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, "King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Dan. 3:16–18 NIV)

May we come to the point where we'd sooner avoid oxygen and water than the means of grace.