Big Buts

Consider how your life, your heart, your thoughts are shaped by big buts. I'm serious.

There are some incredible big buts:

• "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..." (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV) 

• "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, BUT we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Psalm 20:7 ESV) 

• "BUT when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit..." (Titus 3:4-5 ESV) 

• "BUT this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:21-23 ESV)

• "So you are no longer a slave, BUT a son..." (Galatians 4:7 ESV)
 

And there are some not-so-incredible but still very big buts:

• I know God forgives me, BUT I can't forgive myself. 

• Jesus is my all; BUT if I lose this one thing, I've lost everything. 

• "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; BUT the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Hebrews 4:2 NASB) 

•  God is sovereign, BUT he doesn't care about suffering. Definitely not my suffering.

• "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' BUT do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46 ERV)

This is not profound, but it's huge. The buts that consume you will become you.