In 1986, a Hip hop artist named Sir-Mix-a Lot, produced a song titled, “Baby got Back” This is a song that is still played in certain genres from time to time. The song starts out with the phrase, ‘ I like big butts and I cannot lie…” This song obviously is referring to body parts, but as I was preparing this word, that opening phrase came to mind. That phrase actually applies to most of us, but in a different way. For example, how many of you have ever said or thought something along these lines:
I would go work out today, but I am too tired.
I want to talk to my friend about this issue, but I don’t like confrontation.
I want to do great things, but I am too old/young.
I would do (insert whatever), but (insert any excuse).
When we follow statements with the word but, it usually negates everything we said before it. Life can make the but seem really big and it often prevents us from doing things.
Well I want to tell you it is time for us all to get off our butts.
When we find ourselves coming up with a thought that contains a but, we need to follow that with god. BUT GOD!
Those are my favorite words in the Bible, my favorite concept regarding how life works. The beauty of how this works rests on God’s mercy and grace.
Mercy and grace are often confused. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not the same. To summarize the difference: mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.
In short, mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve; grace is God giving us something we do not deserve.
There are many things we have access to because of God’s mercy and grace working together to give us a but God statement. I want to look at just 3 of them today.
1st Gods mercy and grace gives us salvation
Titus 3:5
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
The apostle Paul knew he had received God’s mercy and
he knew full well that he didn’t deserve it. But God, the most wonderful two words ever put together, but God gave it to him anyway.
You see Paul made a lot of mistakes before being saved.
He was essentially an old time Charles Manson, being responsible for the death of a lot Christians. Then one day, on the road to Damascus, Paul received Gods mercy instead of the judgment he deserved. Not only that but grace was given to him, which included a new name (from Saul to Paul), a new life, and a new mission. None of which was based on anything he could boast in. He was forever thankful.
2nd God’s mercy and Grace also gives us help in our times of trouble
Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
We all face difficult and trying times, I am sure everyone here has cried at some point in life, I know I have.
But there is good news. The help and comfort we need is always available during these times. It is all because of Gods mercy and grace. No one has earned the help that God gives to us each day, we all should be punished for our sins and should reap the results of our bad choices without comfort. Have you ever heard the phrase you made your bed, now lie in it? Well we often times find our selves in trouble, but God shows mercy in not leaving us alone and then in addition shows us Grace by giving us help.;
What have any of us done for God lately that he owes us any favors? He is God. He doesn’t need us to give him anything.
Everything that we are given is because of his loving grace and mercy.
I am so thankful for all the blessings that God gives to me
3rd Because of Gods mercy and grace, we have all we need to endure whatever comes our way
2 Corinthians 4:1
Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up.
Philippians 4:13
I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Berean literal translation says:
I have strength for all things in the One strengthening me.
Sometimes life gets so stressful that it seems like we just can’t go on another day but there is good news. The good news is that we are not alone. God’s mercy and grace strengthens us and sustains us so we do not have to give up. We can endure whatever comes our way because he gives us strength and walks through it with us. We may feel alone and abandoned, too weak to make it through, But God never leaves us or forsakes us. We have a friend in Jesus, a friend that sticks closer to us than a brother. When it seems that we can’t go on any farther he tells us to cast our cares upon him because he cares for us. His mercy and grace is new every day, always available to us.
I want to share a short story about Henry Ford. One day he was driving through the Michigan countryside when he saw a man whose model T Ford had broken down alongside the road. Mr Ford stopped and asked the man if he could take a look and see if he could fix, it the man said yes. In just a matter of minutes Mr Ford had the car running again. The man told Mr Ford he sure was impressed. Henry Ford replied, “well I should be able to fix,. it after all I am the one who designed it.”
God has designed us and whatever might be wrong with us God is able to fix it. There is nothing that God cannot do. The next time life throws you something that causes you to pause and say but… I want you to remember the biggest but of all, but God. Go to Him and take advantage of His mercy and grace today. It turns out I really do like big buts, and I cannot lie.
Great BUT GOD verses:
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.
They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.
But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,[a] 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
A Rock Between The Eyes 