The Great “But’s” of Scripture
By Shane Pruitt
When reading Scripture, one can’t help but notice all the great “buts!” These “buts” are really great to see. Ok, I realize making these statements are a bit of an attention grabber, but I believe that is the point of these verses. A “but” grabs our attention and causes us to realize there is a change, a contrast, or a clarification coming. They are great and powerful reminders that the world is rough and sin is real, but God is bigger than the world and His grace is deeper than the depth of our sin.
Take a moment to look at these great “buts,” and be encouraged by His Word today:
“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” – Genesis 39:21
“So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” – Genesis 45:8
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” – Genesis 50:20
“But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you.” – Deuteronomy 23:5
“And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.” – 1 Samuel 23:14
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” – 2 Chronicles 32:7 – 8
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalm 73:26
“They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.” – Psalm 94:21 – 22
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” – Isaiah 40:8
“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:25 – 26
“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” – Mark 2:7
“And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.” – Acts 13:29 – 30
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” – 1 Corinthians 1:27
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6 – 7
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” – 2 Corinthians 3:5
“Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” – Philippians 2:27
“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
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” – Ephesians 2:13
“Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:10
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” – 1 John 2:1