“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!”  Romans 5:8
(‘But God’!  Two among my most beloved words in Scripture.)  
 
The conjunction word ‘but’ has always caused me to pay attention because that meant a change from what was happening before.  In Scripture it is important look carefully and understand the words that go before and those that follow.  Especially in the study of the ‘but God’ phrases.  
 
“And Abraham said to God, ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!’
But God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for His descendants after him.’”  Genesis 17:18-19
 
Here are three that refer to Joseph:
“Now, therefore, it was; not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”  Genesis 45:8
 
“And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.”  Genesis 50:24
 
“And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt.  But God was with him and delivered him our of all his troubles…”  Acts 7:9
 
“And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat; thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’”  
2 Chronicles 20:15
 
“But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol;
For He will receive me.  Selah.”  Psalm 45:15  (Read Vs. 13-14 for the before statement.)
 
“My flesh and my heart may fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  Psalm 73:26

“Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in the tomb.
But God raised Him from the dead.”  Acts 13:29-30
 
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”  1 Corinthians 3:6-7
 
“For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side; conflicts without, fears within.
But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”  2 Corinthians 7:5-6
 
This is the verse that said, ‘But God’ that reached out to me and grabbed my heart years ago and still thrills my soul beyond description!
“But God, being rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when  we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”  Ephesians 2:4-5
 
Lord God it is You and You alone that has given us life.  It is Your work in each heart from beginning to end. You have brought about our salvation, redemption, reconciliation, adoption by Your grace and mercy.  Oh Lord we love You and adore You.  Thank You,  Thank You and Thank You ever  more!  Amen