But God: Trusting Him to Change the Story

“But God.” Dozens of times, the Bible contains this simple phrase that summarizes the world-changing power of the Lord’s intervention. Over and over man has made disastrous choices, and God has stepped in, rescuing, protecting and redeeming hopeless situations for His honor and the good of His people. He touches the story and revolutionizes the narrative.

In the face of famine, God stepped in and revealed that the dire injustice Joseph had endured was part of His sovereign plan to preserve not only Joseph’s life, but the lives of his family and of an entire nation. Joseph tells his brothers, “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:7) Later, he adds, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

Time and again, the Lord redeems the sinful deeds of mankind, culminating in His intervention at Calvary. Peter testified on Pentecost that it was by “God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge” that Jesus was handed over to be crucified, leading to the greatest turning point of human history: “But God raised him from the dead.” (Acts 2:24) Paul later wrote, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

God removed the obstacles that prevented people from hearing about the redeeming work of His Son by breaking down the barriers between Jew and gentile. Peter explains to Cornelius, “But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.” (Acts 10:28) The Lord orchestrated Paul’s circumstances and preserved his life so he could share his testimony before many: “But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.” (Acts 26:22)

Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so He redeems all who trust in Him from spiritual death and brings them into His family. As we seek to share the life we have in Christ with least-reached people, we trust Him to intervene, overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles and sovereignly guiding to make it possible for those who’ve never heard the gospel to be introduced to the everlasting hope He offers.

Just as God moved Joseph to Egypt, He sovereignly moves people today for His glory and their good. He works in the midst of hardship. He brings refugees to places where the gospel can be freely shared and sends His followers to places where few know Him.

Just as God removed the barriers preventing the spread of the good news to the gentiles, He makes it possible for His followers to share the gospel in places where obstacles abound.

Just as God preserved Paul’s life so he could proclaim the message of Christ to many, the Lord preserves His people and orchestrates their circumstances so that least-reached people can be introduced to the hope found only in Him.

For over 100 years God has used men and women serving through Christar as instruments of Christ-honoring transformation in communities where he is yet to be worshiped. We live and serve in the truth of these two words—“but God”—as the hope of men and women everywhere.

Will you participate with us in what the Lord is doing to bring this eternal hope to communities where few have heard the gospel?

Participate by Praying:

• Praise God for intervening in the impossible for His glory and the good of mankind.
• Ask the Lord to continue to make it possible for least-reached people to know and worship Him as He sends His followers to share the good news.
• Pray for wisdom for Christar workers as they seek to participate in what God is doing to bring about transformation in least-reached communities.