The word 'but' is generally the worst kind of word. It has a very negative connotation, doesn't it? When we hear it, we know something bad is coming:
"You've been an excellent employee, but..."
"It was a great vacation, but..."
"He has nice eyes, but..."
You get the point, I'm sure. Well, as I've read and prayed my way through Romans in the last week, I've discovered an ever-growing appreciation for this word. The best example I can think of is Romans 3: 19-26. Take your time and think about what the word 'but' really means for us:
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
