BUT GOD…
Where would you be without God? Now don’t just give some quick, simple answer but think deeply about that for a moment. What would your life, your dreams and your hopes be now if God had not intervened in your life?
The phrase “but God” is short and simple, but very significant. God sent a flood to destroy mankind, “but God remembered Noah” (Genesis 8:1). Jacob’s life seemed out of control, “but God was with him” (Genesis 31:5). Joseph’s life was turned upside down and went from bad to worse, “but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Saul tried to kill David, “but God” protected him (1 Samuel 23:14). The list goes on and on. “But God…” “But God…” “But God…”
The most relevant “But God” for us is in Ephesians 2:4 where Paul says we were dead in our sins, blindly following Satan, without hope and deserving of eternal condemnation. “But God” entered that picture and brought a 180 degree turn in our lives. He made us alive in Christ by His grace. He raised us with Christ and seated us in the heavens with Jesus. What a dramatic change! What a glorious rescue despite impossible circumstances! Read and meditate on the whole passage below:
Ephesians 2:1-10 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 BUT because of his great love for us, GOD, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Finish this sentence: “Before God came into my life I was _____________________________ but God _________________________________________________ . (List as many things as you can that He has done in your life.)
Now go face your day with its trials and frustrations. Burdens always seem lighter when we remember how it could have been except for “but God.”