“But Dad…” (Pick a Card Series)
June 24, 2023
Remember when we were taught in elementary school that we should not begin a sentence with a conjunction or a preposition? And we should not end a sentence with a preposition? BUT serious language authorities say that there is no need to follow those rules and that is perfectly fine to place conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence and prepositions at either end of a sentence. AND if we follow the example in scripture, we will find many verses that begin with the conjunction, BUT, in particular.
BUT is one of my most favorite conjunctions to write or speak WITH. Evidence of that may be found in many a conversation I had with my Dad on the golf course. My golf lessons were at times painful for both my dad and me. He couldn’t imagine I was having fun in my ignorant state of how to swing the club; I couldn’t imagine that the game could only be fun if I played correctly. IN the beginning lessons, my dad would correct every aspect of my swing and I would argue, “BUT Dad, I’m having fun!” He would say, “It can’t be fun if you’re not doing it right!” TO further defend my defensiveness, I’d say, “BUT Dad, if I did it perfectly, I’d be on the professional circuit!”
In retrospect, those lessons were priceless gems, and I was foolish to think I knew better than someone wiser and more competent who loved me and only wanted the best for me. My argumentativeness and defensiveness revealed I lacked a teachable spirit and spilled over to my relationship with God. How often I said, “BUT God…” when my heavenly Father, who is always with me and always loves me, is trying to teach me something for my own good!
Fortunately, the “BUT GOD” and “BUT THE LORD” verses in scripture are not defensive proclamations but encouraging ones to remind us of God’s presence, unconditional love, and guiding hand.
Consider these verses I will leave you WITH –
Romans 5:6-8
But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Acts 7:9-10
But God was with him and
rescued him [Joseph] from all his troubles.
Ephesians 2:4-7
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.
Psalm 86:15
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 94:22
But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock
in whom I take refuge.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and
protect you…