But God

But. A tiny word that packs a big punch. On the contrary. A change of direction.

It’s the first word of Galatians 5:22. Against the backdrop of the list of vices is the adversative word. Something’s about to change. How can love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control be produced in people who are prone to adultery, dissension, division, and addiction? Paul answers that question in another of his letters.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

ephesians 2:4-6

But God. Two words that forever change the personal history of someone. But God. The only possible way you and I, capable of so much sin can be so kind, so joyful, so loving is because of a “but God” encounter. God came to us when we were dead, meaning we couldn’t do one thing for ourselves. And as dead people, God made us alive. We weren’t sick and in need of a doctor, we were dead and in need of resusciation.

But God.

Thank him today for the “but God” moment in your life, the time when everything changed and he changed everything. The day he saved you from your sin and yourself. Pause now to thank him for interrupting you, for intervening for you, for raising you up and seating you in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

But God.

This is an old song. I heard it this week by the Collingsworth family and I literally wanted to have a Holy Ghost fit! This song is gospel from beginning to end, written by a man who wandered far from God, but through the prayers of his family and the faithfulness of friends in college, the Lord gloriously saved him! Don’t miss these lyrics. You’ll have to click the link to Youtube. (And you’ll know why it’s had 9.5 million views!).