While we were yet sinners...
That is LOVE!
- knowing the mistakes we would make
- knowing the bad decisions we would make
- Knowing we would fight or ignore our hearts plea to go to Jesus
- knowing we would start on the narrow path but fall off or sit down or stray time and time again.
He still died for us.
This is the love we are to show the world.
It is a hard love. We are not used to
- Loving our enemies,
- doing good to those who hate you,
- blessing those who curse you,
- praying for those who mistreat you.
- If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.
- If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
- Give to everyone who asks you,
- and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
- Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:27-31
Why are we to do all that? This is how we show the world we are HIS by love. As it goes on to say in Luke 6
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that... Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
I would say a reason the But God phrase means so much is because of the LOVE that is in it. The love that is referenced in the above verses. The love we are to extend to the world.
This is one of the fruits of the spirit. We are to be known by our fruit. Our fruitfulness reveals our growth. A good tree beareth good fruit.
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
While I love that verse what always grabs my attention is repetition in the Bible. And the various But God verses in the Bible draw me.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
But God reveals our God always sees us and has a plan not just for us but for the world. Our loss, our season, our discomfort, temporary or long term, has a reason. We have to use faith to trust God, another reason the But God phrase means so much.
And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. Genesis 31:7
This But God verse reveals that we can be secure in God that He will not allow anything to hurt u without His say so.
Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15
This But God verse gives me swagger. It gives me hope and joy. Because I know if I have done what He tells me to do. Then I can rest when He tells me to rest. When He says I got this I know I am about to witness something amazing.
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;...1 Corinthians 1:27
This But God verse gives me humility. Reminds me yes God is using me but I am a foolish weak thing that He is using. Truly my sufficiency is of God. It really goes well with this verse.
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase...1 Corinthians 3:6-7
We are reminded again that when we do what He has called us to do God will take care of the increase. It is grace that He allows me to be involved at all. He is the God of the outcome.
So I point out all that to say as I mentioned in my video that I design from the Bible. But I am hoping to show more of the pull of various scriptures that I have used in my design.
I hope it encourages you to dig in and read the scriptures. I hope it encourages you to purchase a product that features a scripture that pulls at you as they do to me.
I hope that you grow and expand in your walk with Christ as a result of me sharing my thought process and creating these products that you purchase. 