Heavenward by Scotty Smith » grace upon grace

A Prayer for Christmas Day

Scotty Smith — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:59:15 +0000

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Dear Lord Jesus, a most glorious and praised-filled “Happy birthday” to you! Though you’ve existed forever in rich, joyful, pleasure-filled relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, today we celebrate your coming to us and for us. You are the long-time-promised and much-longed-for Christ—the Messiah. Every promise God has made finds its fulfillment—its unequivocal “Yes!” in you. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

With brothers and sisters throughout the world, and those presently in heaven, we rejoice in the day angels “harked,” shepherds ran, and Mary pondered the very good news which fills our hearts this morning. What a blessed and beloved people we are—a people upon whom God’s favor rests, in whom he greatly delights and over whom he sings with great rejoicing!

We praise you for being born in Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” for we were a famished people, binge eating at many empty buffets, spending our money “for that which is not bread” (Isa. 55:2). But you came as the Bread of Life, and you’ve brought the feast of the gospel to our souls. Now we are truly satisfied, as with the richest of fare and the finest cuisine—with the nourishment which stirs within us our longing for the day we will see you again—Bridegroom to Bride! Oh, hasten that glorious Day of banquet and beauty!

Indeed, we praise you for entering our world in the town of David, Israel’s beloved shepherd-king. For what King David could never be, you’ve become for us—the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep; and now you care for us with relentless tenderness and persistent kindness.

And as the King of kings and Lord of lords, you are presently reigning over all things and working in all things, for your glory and our good. Hallelujah, many, many times over! No other kingdom is everlasting but yours; no other King is as loving. Knowing these things to be true, we have a peace which passes all understanding, mercies which cannot be measured, and grace upon grace upon grace!

Oh, for the Day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father! Happy birthday, indeed, Lord Jesus. You are so easy to love and so worthy to be adored. So very Amen we pray, in your matchless and merciful name.

A Prayer Celebrating the Fullness of Grace and Truth in Jesus

Scotty Smith — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:13:05 +0000

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This was the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. John 1:14-16

Dear Lord Jesus, I can understand why, of all the accounts of your birth, John’s is least often chosen as the script for Sunday school Christmas pageants and programs. After all, what parts would the children play? What cute costumes could they wear? There’s no manger, no Joseph and Mary, no shepherds and angels or wise men and lowing cattle. But there certainly is you. You’re are the only star on the horizon in this nativity scene, and how you shine.

I praise you, Lord Jesus, for becoming flesh and “tabernacling” among us at just the right time. Though equal to, yet distinct from the Father, you didn’t consider your glory something to be tightly grasped or held onto selfishly. Rather, you emptied yourself by becoming a man—but not just any ordinary man but a servant-man, the Servant of the Lord, God incarnate, the second Adam, our Savior . . . my Savior.

In your thirty-three years of incarnate life, you accomplished everything necessary for the redemption of the people for whom you lived and died, but also for the restoration of the world you created and love. Be magnified, adored, regaled, worshiped, and loved, Lord Jesus. What a wonderful, merciful Savior you are! What a God who is so mighty to save!

I cannot sing Isaac Watts’ great Advent hymn, “Joy to the World,” without thinking of John’s Advent narrative. For you are presently ruling the world with your grace and truth—the the grace and truth with which you are full. You’re making the nations prove the wonders of your love as the gospel runs from heart to heart and nation to nation.

From the fullness of your grace I keep receiving one blessing after another and one blessing on top of another: The blessings of your imputed righteousness; the blessings of perpetual favor with God; the blessings of your intercession and advocacy; the blessings of your Spirit’s work in my life; the blessings of citizenship in heaven; the blessing of knowing the good work you have begun in me, and in the cosmos, will be brought to completion!

Hail the incarnate deity! Joy to the world, and to me, indeed. You have come, you are here and you are coming again. So very Amen I pray, in your most glorious and grace-filled name.

A Prayer of Gospel Weeping and Dancing

Scotty Smith — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 11:25:29 +0000

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thess. 5:23-24

Holy and loving Father, it’s passages in your Word like this one that make me want to weep and dance at the same time. I feel like weeping over the years I spent in gospel-ignorance—a stranger to the ways of grace. I suffered much under the hands of bad theologies, man-centered remedies, and Christ-less formulas. How I praise you for rescuing me!

As a young believer, I was certain my sins were forgiven, but I remained confused about how you actually change your sons and daughters. It’s was kind of like Jesus did his part, now I’ve got to do my part. But this one Scripture, all by itself, affirms that salvation, all of it—is “of the Lord”. The whole doxological enterprise, from beginning to end, is of your doing, Father.

You are the God who called me to life in Jesus, for I was dead in my sins; you are thoroughly transforming me to be like Jesus; you are keeping my whole being blameless until the day you send Jesus back to finish making all things new—including me. The God of peace you are, indeed! Where else can such peace, joy, and assurance be found?

How did I miss the really good news of the gospel for so long? Why was I such an easy target for performance-based spirituality? Why wasn’t I able to recognize corruptions of the gospel sooner? I lament the years I spent in seeing Jesus more as my perfect model than as my perfect righteousness.

Scouring my heart for hidden sin; rededicating my life to Jesus, time and again; trying to make Jesus Lord of all things (as though I could make him Lord of anything); holding out for a special experience of the Holy Spirit that would once and for all change me… these were the things that preoccupied me more than savoring a life of union and communion with Jesus. How did I miss so much of the gospel for so very long?

Father, enough of looking back in sadness; I choose to look up in gladness, for you’ve turned my mourning into dancing. You’ve removed the sackcloth of my grace-less self-righteousness, self-reliance and self-absorption, and you’ve clothed me with the wedding garments of the Lamb. You love me as much as your love your beloved Son, Jesus.

With the music of a coming banquet already emanating from heaven, my prayer is simply this: Dear Father, more and more, and through and through, make me like Jesus. You are faithful and you will do it. So very Amen I pray, with profound gratitude and assurance, in Jesus’ holy and loving name.

A Prayer Extolling the Greatness and Glory of Our God

Scotty Smith — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:06:07 +0000

For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 1 Cor. 8:6

Most gracious and holy God, I’ve always appreciated people who are able to “cut to the chase,” no matter what the topic is. Just give me an accurate overview, a succinct summation, a comprehensive distillation of the issue, and I’m good to go. The apostle Paul has done precisely that for me in this one remarkable verse of Scripture. What’s the bottom line of all heavenly wonder?

Truly, there is no other God but you; and with immeasurable kindness, you’ve chosen to relate to us as the Father from whom all fatherhood derives its meaning (Eph. 3:14-15). You’re not simply the best father there ever was, you are the quintessential Father. To call you “Abba, Father,” began as a desperate cry, now it’s my daily delight.

Everything comes from you—everything: my first breath, my next breath; my first heartbeat, my last heartbeat. You were a great Creator before you became a generous Redeemer. There’s nothing that I have that I didn’t receive from you (1 Cor. 4:7). It is by you and unto you that I live; for of you, through you and to you are all things (Rom. 11:26).

Truly, there is no other Lord but you, Jesus. You are the Christ—the promised and present Savior. Through you the Father created the world; through you he granted salvation; through you he’s sustaining all things; and through you he’ll complete his great story of pan-national redemption and cosmic restoration.

Jesus, it’s through you that I live and move and have my being, Jesus (Acts 17:28). Autonomy is a pernicious myth, self-salvation a demonic lie. Because of you, this is my bodacious and liberating boast. I have been justified. I am being sanctified. and I will be glorified… by faith alone (the faith you give me) and by grace alone (the grace you pour out on me abundantly).

And God the Holy Spirit, I see these things, understand these things, and believe these things only because of your powerful and persistent work. Though you are the most silent member of the Godhead, you are so very, very present. You are the surety of my eternal salvation and the firstfruits of my everlasting delight. You persistently gossip the gospel to my heart and you are tenaciously making me like Jesus. Hallelujah, several times over! So very Amen I pray today, in Jesus’ peerless name, to the glory of the Triune God!

A Prayer for Actively Waiting for Jesus’ Return

Scotty Smith — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:29:35 +0000

Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. Luke 12:35-37

King Jesus, through the years I’ve suffered through some horrible teaching about your second coming, most of which generated self-centered fear, gospel-less speculation, and political sensationalism. That’s hardly what you had in mind when you charged us to watch and wait for your return. As I meditate on this passage this morning, much of the theological rubbish and rubble is cleared away.

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, O 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.

Lord Jesus, because the gospel is true, I’m ready for service in two ways. First of all, I’m ready (as counter-intuitive and astonishing as it is) for you to serve me. According to the Scriptures, when you return, you’ll be dressed and have us, your bride, “recline at the table”; then you’ll come and wait on us (Luke 12:37). What a knee-buckling image. What wondrous love is this, indeed!

But nothing has changed, all you’ve ever done is serve your people—in creation and by your incarnation, through your life of perfect obedience and death upon the cross as our substitute; by your resurrection from the dead and ascension to the Father’s right hand; by your constant advocacy and heavenly intercession. You’re always giving to us—grace upon grace upon grace.

Secondly, as I consider all the ways you serve us, Jesus, I have a renewed passion to serve you and to serve with you as you gather your bride from among the nations and as you are busy making all things new. You’re coming back to finish a work that is well under way, by you and for you. Whose feet do we wash today? Where are you setting prisoners free? To whom is your tear-wiping hand reaching? Where are you bringing first-fruit expressions of your kingdom of redemption?

What an honor and privilege it is, Jesus, to serve with you. So very Amen I pray with gratitude, in your holy and loving name.

A Prayer about Grace Upon Grace Upon Grace

Scotty Smith — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:50:05 +0000

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This was the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. John 1:14-16

Dear Lord Jesus, it’s easy to understand why John’s account of your birth is never chosen as the script for Sunday school Christmas pageants. After all, what parts would the children play? What cute costumes could they wear? There’s no manger, no Joseph and Mary, no shepherds and angels or wise men and lowing cattle. But there certainly is you. You’re are the only star on the horizon in this nativity scene, and how you shine. Meditating through John’s Advent narrative is like standing under a waterfall of glory and grace.

We praise you, Lord Jesus, for becoming flesh and “tabernacling” among us for just the right amount of time. Though equal to, yet distinct from the Father, you didn’t consider your glory something to be tightly grasped or held onto selfishly. Rather, you emptied yourself by becoming a man—but not just any ordinary man, but a servant-man—the Servant of the Lord, the second Adam, our Savior . . . my Savior.

In your thirty-three years of incarnate life, you accomplished everything necessary to redeem a pan-national bride for yourself, but you also secured the restoration of the world you created and love. Be magnified, adored, regaled, worshiped, and loved, Lord Jesus. What a wonderful, merciful Savior you are—what a LORD, so merciful and mighty to save.

“Joy to the World”, indeed! For you are presently ruling the world with your grace and truth—the the grace and truth of which you are full. You are actively making the nations prove the wonders of your love, as the gospel runs from heart to heart and nation to nation. We fall before you in humility, we dance before you in delight.

From the fullness of your grace we keep receiving grace upon grace upon grace: The grace of your imputed righteousness, the grace of perpetual favor with God, the grace of your intercession and advocacy, the grace of your Spirit’s work in our lives, the grace of citizenship in heaven, the grace of knowing the good work you have begun in us will be brought to completion, the grace of inheriting the new heaven and new earth… and that’s just for starters! Hail the incarnate deity, indeed! Joy, great joy, to the world, and to me. So very Amen we pray in your most gladsome and winsome name.

A Prayer about the Radical Generosity of Grace

Scotty Smith — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 11:05:19 +0000

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 2 Cor. 8:1-6 ESV

Heavenly Father, we come before you today challenged by this picture of radical grace. This one story alone underscores why we can never emphasize your grace too much. Grace is never to be counter-balanced with law, only multiplied with more grace. Indeed, though Jesus you continue to give us grace upon grace (John 1:16 ESV).

What an amazing story—the severely afflicted and extremely poor Christians of Macedonia became a model of radical generosity to the much wealthier believers in Corinth. And, according to you, their motivation wasn’t fear and guilt, it was multiplied grace. For you love cheerful giving, not reluctant giving compelled by pressure from without (2 Cor. 9:7).

Father, only your grace is powerful enough to give us abundant joy in the absence of affluence, coupled with hearts that beg to give sacrificially beyond our means for the benefit of strangers! The law cannot produce that kind of people—not even grace plus law, but grace upon grace.

For the glory of Jesus and the advancing of your kingdom, we ask you to give us the same grace you gave the churches of Macedonia. The needs all around us are exponential, but your resources are endless. Indeed, help us to excel in the grace of giving. For you are “able to make all grace abound to us, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, we can abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8 ESV). Enrich us in every way that we might be generous in every way (2 Cor. 9:11)—with our time, talents and treasures; and with great forbearance and extravagant forgiveness.

Jesus, you are the ultimate cheerful giver. That is what the gospel is all about. Though you were rich you gladly became poor for us, that by your poverty we might become joyfully rich through you (2 Cor. 8:9). Make your gladness ours. Make your generosity ours. So very Amen, we pray, in your great and gracious name.

A Prayer About One Advent Blessing After Another

Scotty Smith — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:08:51 +0000

The Word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “this was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:14-16

Dear Jesus, I can understand why, of all the accounts of your birth, John’s is least often chosen as the script for Sunday-school Christmas pageants and programs. After all, what parts would the children play? What cute costumes could they wear? There’s no manger, no Joseph and Mary, no shepherds, angels and wise men and lowing cattle. But there certainly IS you. You’re are the only star on the horizon in this nativity scene, and how you shine.

Jesus, I praise you for becoming “flesh” and “tabernacling” among us for just the right amount of time. Though equal to, yet distinct from the Father, you didn’t consider your glory something to be tightly grasped or held onto selfishly. Rather, you emptied yourself by becoming a man—but not just any ordinary man, a servant-man, the Servant of the Lord… the second Adam, our Savior… my Savior.

In your thirty-three years of incarnate life, you accomplished everything necessary for the redemption of the people for whom you lived and died… but also for the restoration of the world you created and love. Be magnified, adored, regaled, worshiped and loved, Lord Jesus. What a wonderful merciful Savior you are! What a God who is so mighty to save!

I cannot sing Isaac Watt’s great Advent hymn, “Joy to the Word,” without thinking of John’s telling of your birth narrative. For you are presently ruling the world with your grace and truth—the grace and truth with which you are full. You’re making the nations prove the wonders of your love… as the gospel runs from heart to heart, and nation to nation.

From the fullness of your grace we keep receiving one blessing after another—one blessing on top of another. The blessings of your imputed righteousness… the blessings of perpetual favor with God… the blessings your intercession and advocacy… the blessings of your Spirit’s work in our lives… the blessings citizenship in heaven… the blessing of knowing the good work you have begun in us, and in the cosmos, will be brought to completion! Hail the incarnate deity! Joy to the world, and to us, indeed! So very Amen, we pray, in your most glorious name.