BUT the tax collector (Luke 18:10-14)

 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“BUT the tax collector stood at a distance.

He would not even look up to heaven, 

BUT beat his breast and said,

‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:10-14

This story encourages me every time I read it. We as Christians need to be reminded where we came from and who we would be without Christ.

BUT the sick (Matthew 9:12-13)

 On hearing this, Jesus said,

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, 

BUT the sick. BUT go and learn what this means:

‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’

For I have not come to call the righteous, BUT sinners.”

Matthew 9:12-13

 

BUT that He loved us (1 John 4:10)

This is love: not that we loved God, 

BUT that He loved us and sent His Son

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10
I realize that God loves me no matter what BUT of late I realize that my sacrifices do make  a difference in my relationship with Him. What am I willing to sacrifice? TV time, personal time, my wants, desires? Even in our personal relationships I have found that the more I am willing to sacrifice my own desires the closer I feel to my love. 
Think about it?

BUT God did say (Genesis 3:2-3)

The woman said to the serpent,

“We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 

BUT God did say,

‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

Genesis 3:2-3 NIV

It seems we all think Eve was the cause of all bad things. BUT what would you have done in this situation? It is easy to say "No way, if God himself told me something I would have listened" Well I challenge you today, what has God told you? Are you listening? will you be deceived by the master of this world?

BUT go and learn (Matthew 9:13)

BUT go and learn what this means:

 ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ 

For I have not come to call the righteous, BUT sinners.”

Matthew 9:13

These words were spoken by Jesus when He was questioned as to why he was having dinner with a tax collector.  Jesus came to reach people who need mercy are you reaching out to them as well or do you find yourself judging them? Make this Thanksgiving a true giving season and show mercy to those who need it.

BUT... I didn't get what I deserve (Job 33:27)

I sinned,

BUT... I didn't get what I deserved.

  He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit,

 and I will live to enjoy the light.

  Job 33:27

BUT... I will not always be angry (Isaiah 57)

I was enraged by your willful sins BUT I will not always be angry. Although I have seen your ways I will heal you, guide you, and restore comfort to you.

 

Isaiah 57

Are you involved in something today that you know you ought not be?                                                                              Take the first step and admit it. God will take care of the rest. 

 

 

 

 

BUT.. the things that come out (of our mouths) (Mark 7:15)

There is nothing from without a man,
that entering into him can defile him:

BUT… the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Mark 7:15

All I could say was WOW when I read this. It is not what we put in our bodies that make us unclean BUT it is the things that come out of our mouths that does. Verse 21 and 22 goes on  For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. my prayer is back to yesterday’s oh Lord help me to keep my mouth shut!

BUT.. go on living in spiritual darkness (1 John 1:6)

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God

 

BUT…

Go on living in spiritual darkness,
we are not practicing the truth.
BUT...

If we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all our sins…
1 John 1:6  ESV

Are you trying to hide something from yourself, others or even God. 

It is a lie that you are telling yourself. God is the light and He reveals the truth when we are living in the spirit.

This takes effort on our part. We must make the decision every day, every moment to walk in His light. 

To let His thoughts be our thoughts.

I find this interesting when we are in fellowship with God it results in fellowship with others. You can’t love God and hate people around you. This is a hard pill to swallow, you say “these people drive me crazy, you have no idea how they have treated me” BUT God knows and loves them too. Maybe they don’t know it yet or may they are not living in the light and your love to them will be what reveals God to them.

BUT... the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2)

He (Jesus)is God’s way of dealing with our sins,
not only ours

BUT…

The sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2

When we first read this it sounds really good. BUT I want you to think about it, this means even the people who have wronged you. And if God can forgive them He can give you the freedom to forgive them as well.
Do it today and Free yourself. 

BUT... if anyone does sin (1 John 2:1)

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  (ESV) 

The Lord is not pleased when we intentionally act in a way that we know is not pleasing to Him.

An advocate is defined as one that pleads the cause of another

. Jesus is in heaven and when God is not happy with us He simply says BUT daddy I took care of that.