Innovation is on fire in Israel. Dream it, then stream it. Soon flying cars will be sky taxis, ala Marvel Comics, to speed health care to the boonies. If only we had an app to delete anxiety and see life from God’s perspective? We do!! It’s …. (drum rol-l-l-l-l-l) …THE HOLY BUT.

The phrase, BUT GOD, is used in the Bible to describe His character. Here’s how it looks to live on the wrong side of His holy BUT? “I have a job, BUT the pay is lousy.”  Whereas the right side would be: “Okay, so I’m not a Saudi prince, BUT I’m grateful that I have a job.”

Joseph’s half-brothers hate him and sell him to some desert nomads.  For years he’s wrongfully imprisoned in Egypt. God gets him promoted to #2 in command under Pharoah. A drought forces his brothers to go to Egypt to buy grain from, guess who?  Joseph! To their shock, he’s their benefactor.  Now they have food, family and forgiveness.

God’s ingenious, gracious “50/20Principle” (Genesis 50:20) displays God’s character and His master plan for all of Creation. It’s His HOLY BUT. As Joseph told his remorseful sibs:

“You plotted evil against me, BUT GOD turned it into good in order to preserve the lives of many people who are alive today because of what happened.”

If Joseph had lived on the wrong side of God’s holy BUT, he’d say, “I know God loves me, BUT He sure stuck me with some rotten brothers.”

Paul gets it right: “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, BUT let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God – what is good, pleasing to Him and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)  

What side of the HOLY BUT do you live on?

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