Big But

(Opening Big But video, Worship House Media)

I have a really big but, it’s huge if I have to be honest about it. And you know what the funny thing is about it, I have several big buts and before you discard me because of the disgusting thought of it, I am going to go out on a limb a say that possibly you have one big but as well. That hurts a little doesn’t it? To hear someone tell you that you have a big but doesn’t feel good to hear. But it’s true!

Let me share something with you, everybody we know has a big but. And more often than not, it’s that one thing that keeps us from living a consistent life for Jesus. Let me expound a little bit. See if you can recognize any of these buts:

-BUT I have to work more, BUT my kids have practice, BUT it’s such a beautiful day, But I’m just not in the mood, BUT I deserve a break today.

You see everything kind of BUT interferes with my life of just living an authentic life for God. And more often than not it always has something to do with some sort of BUT. The truth is even the smallest Buts can interfere with our relationship with God. It really can, the littlest BUT can even distract me and get me to think I am not going to pray today, I’m not going to think about it today, I’m not going to deny myself , I’m not going to read the Bible. Blah, Blah , Blah. Whatever it is God asks me to do; I seem to have a BUT for it. And the biggest BUT of all time is the BUT that gets in the way of me just hanging out with God and reading His Word. It’s true, think about it. All the times you’re about to open the Bible and all of a sudden a big giant BUT gets in the way.

-BUT I’m tired, BUT I have to get on Facebook, BUT I read last night, BUT the game is on, BUT I don’t like Leviticus, BUT I don’t like to read, BUT it’s too hot in here, BUT I don’t understand it, BUT it’s boring, BUT what does it have to do with me in the 21st century?

Those are really some ugly BUTS aren’t they. Let’s just tell it how it is, they are ugly BUTS!! And the sad truth is this isn’t all of them. There are more Ugly buts out there. Here is a list of some of man’s most popular BUTS of all time:

-BUT I don’t have enough money yet, BUT others will think I’m a nerd if I carry the Bible, BUT they won’t like me if I talk about Jesus, BUT I don’t know if God will do what I ask, BUT I just can’t get motivated, BUT I’m afraid, BUT can’t I just let my life speak for itself?, BUT doesn’t care if I go to church or not, BUT I can’t sing, BUT isn’t that the pastor’s job, BUT I’m not gifted in that, BUT I don’t know how to pray, BUT I don’t know where to start. And the most over used BUT of all time is: BUT I JUST DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME!

Buts are really all around us aren’t they? We all have them and they are all tremendous ugly buts. “Here a BUT there a BUT everywhere a BUT BUT”.

If I did a message on all of them we would simply be here all day. So, for the sake of time, let’s pick out a few buts to discuss. Let’s look at the original but, that’s right Adam. He was not only the first man but he was also the first one to use a but, excuse to God. This is what I want to call

I.THE BIG BUT OF OTHER PEOPLE.

A.Gen. 3:9-12 the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

1.“But it is Eve’s fault, she is the reason why”. The ol’ blame game, it is the oldest game and has been around since the beginning.

2.Not much has really changed for us throughout the years has it? We still want to blame others for our mistakes, short comings, for our sin.

3.We all have excuses as to why we didn’t do this or that. We all have excuses for not doing this or that. And the really funny thing about it is that even though we have a lot of buts and we blame a lot of people for it, God knows the truth.