Among my favorite words in the Bible are these two, 'But God' and I am sure
that I am not alone in this. Today let's look at some of the 'buts' of
God -- there are many, I'd like to look at some of the ones that cause us to
take our eyes off the earthly and turn our focus to the heavenly.

Among those in Ephesians I have selected the following:
2:1-3 "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly
walked according to the course of this world...among them we too all
formerly lived in the lust of our flesh...by nature children of wrath..."
BUT:
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love...even when we were
dead in our transgression, made us alive together with Christ..." Vs. 5-6

2:12 "Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ...having no
hope and without God in the world."
BUT:
"But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought
near by the blood of Christ." Vs. 13

5:8 "For you were formerly darkness...
BUT:
but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of the light." Vs.8

We all know this one in Romans: 6:23,
"For the wages of sin is death..." How many just stop there?
BUT:
"but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

In the Letter to the Galatians we see,
5:19-21 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are; immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions envying, drunkenness,
carousing, and things like these...those who practice such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God."
BUT:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there
is no law." Vs. 22-23

1 Thessalonians 5:3 is speaking of those who walk in darkness,
"While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon
them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape."
BUT:
"But you, brethren, are not in darkness...for you are all sons of light and
sons of the day..." Vs. 5

Hebrew 12,
"For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing
fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind..." Vs. 18
BUT:
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem and to...the general assembly and church of the
first-born..." Vs. 22-23

I will close with 1 Peter 1,
"Know that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold
from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers" Vs.18
BUT:
"But with precious blood, as a of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood
of Christ." Vs. 19

There are so many more glorious BUTS, I encourage you to seek them out and
delight yourself in the Scriptures. May your seeking bring honor and glory
to our Lord and God for He is worthy of it all.  Amen