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Proverbial But O’ the Week: Diligence
Diligence The sluggard craves and gets nothing, BUT the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. (Proverbs 13:4) Desire by itself doesn’t accomplish much. We can want change, want growth, want healing, want a better relationship, want to accomplish something meaningful—even want to draw closer to God—but eventually desire has to put its shoes on and get… Continue reading
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The Pivot: But Judge Your Neighbor Fairly
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”—Leviticus 19:15 Justice can be distorted in more than one direction. God warns His people not to favor the powerful because of their influence—but neither are they to favor the poor simply because of their need. Wealth,… Continue reading
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But If We Walk in the Light
Read 1 John 1:1–10 There are two wonderfully hopeful buts tucked into the first chapter of John’s first letter. But before we get to them—and yes, that but was intentional—we need to notice how John begins. This is John, the beloved disciple, one of Jesus’ closest companions. The opening of his letter sounds remarkably like the opening of his… Continue reading
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But Makes Thy Glories Known
As longtime students know, the doctor occasionally ventures beyond Scripture in search of his favorite conjunction. He has discovered buts hiding in literature, speeches, popular culture, and—because the doctor appreciates a good tune—music. Today he has wandered into an old hymnal. And there, waiting patiently for nearly three centuries, he found a beauty. Meet Mr. Watts Isaac… Continue reading
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But Because of His Great Love
Read Ephesians 2:1–10 There are some songs you don’t realize you’ve stored away in your heart until something brings them back. Recently, I learned that a beloved professor from my Bible college days, Dr. Richard Seymour, had gone home to be with the Lord. Almost immediately, I heard an old song playing in my mind:… Continue reading
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But With God, All Things Are Possible
An Excerpt from Chapter 19. Nestled in one of the best-known encounters in all four Gospels is one of the greatest buts in the entire Bible. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” If someone asked me to list the most hope-filled buts in Scripture, this one would be near… Continue reading
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But the Story Wasn’t Over
Read Genesis 5:1–5; Romans 7:18–25 Genesis 5 opens after an awful lot has gone wrong. Abel is dead, murdered by his own brother. Cain has walked away from the presence of God. His descendants have continued down a road marked by pride, violence, and increasing disregard for God. The beautiful world introduced only a few… Continue reading
Darin Michael Shaw
In addition to being the world’s foremost expert on the conjunction but, author and freelance writer Darin Michael Shaw (he/him/his) identifies as a post-evangelical, free-range Jesus Freak, taking Jesus seriously when he says, “Follow me,” while inviting others to come and see for yourself.
Big Buts of the Bible 