Skip to main content

BUT OUT

Yes, I realize that the usual phrase “butt out” is spelled with two “t”s, but my misspelling is intentional.  So often we have used the word but in our sentences.  Even after I was thinking this last night, my husband caught me in the act multiple times.

I want to do this, but…

I would find time to serve the poor, but…
I would call her, but…
I would find time to read the Bible every day, but…

Fill in the blanks.  It is easy to say I would or I should do something and then justify why we are not doing it.  Our lives take precedence over everything and we justify not having time to do this or that.  I know that I do.  Sometimes the word but is very useful, it helps us stay on the straight and narrow path.  But lets look at it in our spiritual life.  Lets look at the but in our walks with God. 

There isn’t always a black and white answer to everything in the Bible.  Sometimes there are shades of gray that we must dive deeper into the scriptures to discover the true meaning of.  Some things are very black and white, like the 10 commandments.  The scripture that really stuck out to me today was from John

John 21:15-17:

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’
‘Yes Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you,’
Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of Jon, do you truly love me?’
He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’
He said “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.’” (NIV)

Simon Peter could have said, “Yes Lord, you know I love you, but it isn’t cool to love you.  The people are making fun of me and I don’t want to die.”  He could have said, “Lord, you know that I love you, but I denied you because I was scared.”  But he didn’t, he answered with no buts.  And Jesus gave him specific instructions. 

Do we love God?  Do we want to follow Him even if it means going to our deaths?  Do we put a big but in the middle of our love for God?  Do you (as I do) justify our failures in serving Him with a big but?  Because friends, I can assure you, God doesn’t like big buts…

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Balancing

This past year, I have been learning a lot about balancing the books.  I am blessed with an amazing husband who has always taken care of the financial aspects of or marriage, including me in on important decisions and making things work and helping me to understand; but when you run your own (confidential) business, you have to do it yourself.  I would say I was doing okay, but it is HARD to get the right balance when you aren't used to it.  I have to be very diligent and stay on top of things or I have to go back and try to correct things and remember things.  It is really a challenge.  I am NOT a numbers or math person.   Then I began thinking about life in general, how it is difficult sometimes to manage and balance the times in life that are very busy or more challenging.  How often do we just let things slide and then go back and try to fix them later? During my reading of Isaiah 40 this morning, I was reminded that God is better at balance than anyone out ther
Post a Comment
Read more

Daily Bread

I have a dog.  He is cute , but he is still a dog.  That means that he is reliant on me.  He likes me no matter what, If I am not around him, he flips out a little and has anxiety.  If others try to claim him or take care of him when I'm not around, he growls and barks at them.  My dog's name is Spike .  He is a Yorkie.  I promised my husband if he got me a girlie dog, I would name it something masculine so he wouldn't have to go outside and yell fru fru when calling our dog.  Spike knows that I take care of him.  He knows that my husband and I are the two that take care of him the most.  The kids try to play with him and he runs to us with the toys.  The kids try to take him out and he only comes back when one of us calls him.  He knows our voice and respects our voice.  He also is needy.  Like he relies on us to take him outside to do his business and to feed him and give him water.  Spike will let us know when he is out of food or water, he goes to his dish and bumps
Post a Comment
Read more

The Easter Story with M&Ms

I am preparing for my oldest daughter's school party for Easter.  I was racking my brain trying to figure out a cheap, but awesome party favor to give to everyone.  One of the things that I love about her going to a Christian School is I can do things like this. I looked at all the Easter M&M Poems out there, and didn't really like them, they didn't flow quite right or, which may have bothered me more, they didn't go in the order they set out in the beginning of the poem.  We have a discount grocery store in town and they had large bags of M&Ms on sale for $1.80 so I bought a bunch and will be splitting them up and putting them with this poem that I made up instead.  It is definitely inspired by the Christmas one that is floating around out there and a few of the other Easter ones- so I can't take credit for the creativity of the M W 3 and E idea.... The TRUE Easter story isn't about a bunny - it is about a Salvation - about a Savior that died on the
Post a Comment
Read more