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A new message is updated most
weekdays usually by Noon Eastern Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message) Friday, March
17, 2023
"O
But God"
Message
summary:
Today's
message has
bad news and
good news,
separated by a
"but".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"But
God, being
rich in mercy,
because of the
great love
with which He
loved us, even
when we were
dead in our
trespasses,
made us alive
together with
Christ—by
grace you have
been saved—
and raised us
up with Him
and seated us
with Him in
the heavenly
places in
Christ Jesus,
so that in the
coming ages He
might show the
immeasurable
riches of His
grace in
kindness
toward us in
Christ Jesus.
For by grace
you have been
saved through
faith. And
this is not
your own
doing; it is
the gift of
God, not a
result of
works, so that
no one may
boast. For we
are His
workmanship,
created in
Christ Jesus
for good
works, which
God prepared
beforehand,
that we should
walk in them"
(Ephesians
2:4-10).
Many
years ago I
was preaching
from this text
and in
pointing out
the
significance
of the opening
word I said "Today
we are going
to consider
one the most
important buts
in the Bible".
Of course
there are
various ways
such a
statement
could be
received when
presented
verbally, but
after hearing
the words come
off my tongue
my face
reddened as I
quickly
restated what
I meant while
trying to keep
a steady voice
and straight
face!
Unexpected
surprises can
come to those
who are new to
public
speaking and
even to those
who've been
speakers for
many years.
Early
in my
brother's
ministry he
made a similar
but more
egregious
unintentional
faux pas,
although to
the best of
his
observation
the
congregation
did not pick
up on it. His
wife sure did
but we'll
spare him the
embarrassment
of our
reprinting his
statement in
this message!
We've
been enjoying
a song titled
"O But God"
based on
Ephesians 2:4.
In fact we've
posted a link
to the song
several times
and of course
will do so
again today.
I was buried beneath my rebellion Lost without hope of redemption Blind in my need for a Savior Oh but God Crushed
by the weight
of my failure
Living the lie I created Digging my grave without knowing Oh but God oh but God A
conjunction is
a word used to
connect
clauses or
sentences or
to coordinate
words in the
same clause.
The "but" in
our daily text
connects the
preceding
thought with
the succeeding
thought. "But"
introduces a
contrast and
in this case
it's a
marvelous
contrast.
Paul
had written in
the preceding
verses one of
the most
despairing
truths in the
Bible
describing our
condition
before Christ;
"And you
were dead in
the trespasses
and sins in
which you once
walked,
following the
course of this
world,
following the
prince of the
power of the
air, the
spirit that is
now at work in
the sons of
disobedience—
among whom we
all once lived
in the
passions of
our flesh,
carrying out
the desires of
the body and
the mind, and
were by nature
children of
wrath, like
the rest of
mankind"
(Ephesians
2:1-3). That's
the bad news!
J. Vernon McGee tells the story of a little boy down South who wanted to join a church. So the deacons were examining him. They asked, "How did you get saved?" His answer was, "God did His part, and I did my part." They thought there was something wrong with his doctrine, so they questioned further, "What was God's part, and what was your part?" His explanation was a good one. He said, "God's part was the saving, and my part was the sinning." Ephesians
2:1-3
essentially
describes our
part: the
sinning.
But
Paul continues
with our daily
text, God's
part, which is
the good news.
"But God!"
Rich
in mercy how
You loved me
Too much to let me stay lost My salvation sent from heaven Nailing my sin to a cross Oh but God Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
![]() Matthew
19:26; Psalm
73:16; Genesis
50:20; Romans
6:23
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"O
But God"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Davy Flowers
with lyrics
"O
But God"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Shane
& Shane
The
words to this
song really
bless us!
I
was buried
beneath my
rebellion
Lost without hope of redemption Blind in my need for a Savior Oh but God Crushed
by the weight
of my failure
Living the lie I created Digging my grave without knowing Oh but God oh but God Rich in mercy how You loved me Too much to let me stay lost My salvation sent from heaven Nailing my sin to a cross Oh but God You gave me a truth worth believing And I traded my chains for Your freedom Cause You were the one that I needed Oh but God Resurrecting
my heart from
the ruins
My rescue came through like the morning Now this is my sure testimony Oh but God oh but God Rich in mercy how You loved me Too much to let me stay lost My salvation sent from heaven Nailing my sin to a cross Oh but God All the wreckage of my choices You have turned to life from ashes Lifted from death risen with Him Now I stand in confidence Rich in mercy how You loved me Too much to let me stay lost My salvation sent from heaven Nailing my sin to a cross Oh Rich in mercy how You loved me Too much to let me stay lost My salvation sent from heaven Nailing my sin to a cross Oh but God Oh but God Oh but God Oh but God Brooksyne's
note: After
writing the
prayer for
today's
message I
opened up a
newly acquired
poetry book by
Helen Steiner
Rice, a
favorite poet
of mine from
my high school
years. I was
reading the
FOREWORD and
noticed that
she too used
the
conjunction, "but"
to contrast a
wasted life
when living
for self to
one worthwhile
that spreads
the great
story of
Christ.
Show
me the way,
not to fortune and fame, Not how to win laurels or praise for my name But show me the way to spread the Great Story" That "Thine is the Kingdom and Power and glory. We
had a
beautiful
afternoon
yesterday with
temps reaching
60ş so I went
for a bike
ride through
rural
Lancaster
County.
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We want to thank all who financially support our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support at this time but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here. In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world. ![]() ![]() Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Daily
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