James Watkins: Hope & Humor
Spirituality

Big ‘buts’ of the Bible

“I like big buts and I cannot lie.” No, it’s not that annoying Sir Mix-A-Lot ditty. I like the big buts of the Bible. For example . . .

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12).

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6).

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26).

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Do not be overcome by evil, but but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

God has combined the members of the [church] body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other (1 Corinthians 12:24-25).

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Yep, I like big buts!

Copyright © 2009 James N. Watkins

Note shift in time/space continuum: I’m changing the days I post here. Since most people need some hope and humor on Mondays, I’m moving my Tuesday posts to Mondays. Thursday will remain guest post day. And I’m moving “The Best and the rest,” my round up of the week’s posts, pages and social media comments, from Sunday to Saturday because, duh, Saturday is the last week of the week.

jameswatkins

Author and speaker

4 thoughts on “Big ‘buts’ of the Bible

  • Deb Dulworth

    Yep. Still love this. You rock.

    Reply
  • Here’s my “song” God’s Big ButsGod’s Big Buts

    I like God’s “buts”
    Cause He cannot lie
    Though many others might deny
    That when things look grim
    Like there is no grace
    You can seek him face to face

    It’s been done
    Don’t have to be tough
    Cuz you know His “buts” are enough

    Deep in your heart despairin’
    His book says He won’t stop carin’
    Believe me, he wanna get wi’cha
    Do ya get the picture (picha)

    The killjoys tried to warn me
    But God says seek my Glory

    Ooo, no matter where you been
    Y’say I don’t know your sin
    Just choose Me Can’t lose Me
    don’t do it out o’ duty

    God says Hell’s chances
    Stop advancing…you bet; no sweat
    Jesus died and he paid the debt.

    I’m tired of magazines
    Saying God’s word’s just a scheme
    Take a saved man and ask him that
    He’ll say they’re way off track

    So fellas fellas
    Do ya know ‘bout Gods “big buts”
    Can’t fake it, we’ll take it
    To the world -as it is -UNCUT

    Jesus come back…
    Jesus come back

    Jesus come back

    Ephesians 2:4-10 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, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

    Reply
    • jameswatkins

      That is too funny–and true! Thanks, Lisa!

      Reply

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