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

Center of God's Will

I was very blessed to go over to some new friend’s home last night and talk with them and others about life in general.   As the topic turned solely to missions late in the evening (as this couple used to travel around bringing the good news to kids around the world, and then lived in a different country for 3 years sharing the gospel) I said something like, it must feel amazing to be right in the center of God’s Will.   To have to rely on Him for protection from the most random events; to have to rely on God to take you out of situations that are dangerous; to rely on Him for every provision that you are given; and most importantly, to be brining the message of Christ to all nations under heaven.   Can you imagine?   Knowing that you are supposed to be right where you are, doing what you are doing, right when you are doing it because you have to, and have chosen to, rely on God for every little aspect of your life.   Well friends, I am not out spreading the me...
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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

do I mis-use the Bible?

WOW!   This morning I sat and started to read through Ecclesiastes.   I don’t know if the author of Ecclesiastes, Perhaps King Solomon, had a very sarcastic view on life or if he was just babbling.   But I can definitely see how this book could get a lot of people into trouble if they don’t know the full book or continue to read.   There are verses in there that say things like; eat, drink and enjoy the days on earth because they are meaningless, it is good to enjoy your time on earth and do not worry about anything. To get the full meaning of the book, you need to read it all- the true gems are the last two verses.   This book was written by someone (according to my study Bible) that was near the end of his life, he sees man in pursuit of so many things and vainly pursuing hopes and expectations- but faith teaches him that God has ordered all things according to his own purposes and that we need to accept our limitations.   The last two verses are the wr...
3 comments
Read more