But God: Choosing Jesus as Number One in Life

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Love and Redemption Through Christ

God’s love for humanity is so great that, despite our failures and brokenness, He provided a way for us to be restored through Jesus Christ. This is the foundation of every true recovery and transformation story: no matter how far we have wandered, God’s love reaches further, offering us forgiveness and eternal life if we simply believe and receive. The invitation is not to try harder on our own, but to accept the gift of grace and let God’s love change the direction of our lives. [41:05]

John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to stop striving and simply receive God’s love and forgiveness today?

Day 2: God’s Plans Are Good—Even When Life Is Hard

God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, even when our circumstances seem hopeless or confusing. When we face setbacks, disappointments, or seasons where nothing seems to work out, we can trust that God is still working behind the scenes for our good. Our “but God” moments often come when we surrender our own plans and trust that His ways are higher, even if the path is painful or unexpected. [45:35]

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Reflection: What is one area of disappointment or frustration where you need to trust God’s good plan for your future?

Day 3: God Works All Things for Good

No matter how broken our past or how many times we have failed, God is able to redeem every part of our story. Even our worst mistakes and deepest pain can become part of a testimony that brings hope to others and glory to God. When we love Him and answer His call, He weaves together every detail—good and bad—for a greater purpose than we could ever imagine. [51:21]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Reflection: Think of a painful or difficult part of your story—how might God want to use it for good in someone else’s life?

Day 4: Choose to Serve the Lord First

God desires to be first in our lives, above every other priority, even good things like family or work. When we put Him first, our homes and lives become places where His presence and blessing dwell. This is a daily choice: to serve the Lord, to let Him lead, and to refuse to let anything else take His rightful place. [58:10]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can put God first in your home or daily routine this week?

Day 5: Start Each Day with God and Acts of Kindness

A transformed life is built on daily habits: beginning each morning in prayer, reading God’s Word, and intentionally serving others with kindness—without seeking recognition. These simple practices keep our hearts aligned with God and open the door for Him to work through us in powerful ways. When we make these choices, we invite God to create new “but God” stories in our lives and in the lives of those around us. [01:00:28]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Reflection: Before you reach for your phone tomorrow morning, will you commit to pray, read a Bible passage, and do one act of kindness for someone without telling them?

Sermon Summary

Today, I shared my heart about the power of “but God” stories—those moments when our lives are headed in one direction, often broken or misguided, and then God steps in and everything changes. We began by reflecting on how, from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden, humanity has been in a kind of recovery, always needing God’s intervention and grace. The foundation of our hope is John 3:16: God so loved us that He gave His only Son, so that we could have eternal life. This is the ultimate recovery plan, the basis for every transformation story.

We looked at the life of Saul, who became Paul. Saul was a man who thought he was doing everything right—religious, learned, respected—but he lost sight of God as his first priority. When God is not number one, everything else gets out of order. Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus was his “but God” moment. He was struck blind, confronted with the truth, and given a choice: continue on his own path or surrender to God’s call. Paul chose surrender, and though his life became more difficult—filled with suffering, rejection, and hardship—he found true purpose and joy in putting Jesus first.

I shared my own journey, from addiction and self-centeredness to surrender and new life in Christ. Even after years of sobriety, I realized that without Jesus at the center, I was still lost. It was only when I truly said yes to God that transformation began. My wife and I faced many challenges, including infertility and loss, but through every disappointment, God was working out a greater plan. Our adoption story is a testimony to God’s faithfulness—He provided in a way we never expected, reminding us that He wants to show off His goodness in our lives when we put Him first.

God desires to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine, but He will not compete for second or third place in our hearts. He wants to be number one. I encouraged everyone to start each day on their knees, seek God’s Word, practice secret acts of kindness, and invite others into this journey. No matter where you are or what you’ve done, God has a “but God” story waiting for you. Today is the day to recommit, to put Jesus first, and to trust Him with your future.

Key Takeaways

1. God Must Be First, Not Second When God slips from first place in our lives, everything else becomes disordered. Even good things—family, work, or ministry—can become idols if they take God’s rightful place. True transformation and peace come only when we intentionally put God above all else, every single day. [42:21]
2. “But God” Moments Change Everything Our lives are full of moments where we reach the end of ourselves, but God steps in and redirects our story. These are not just dramatic conversions, but daily opportunities to surrender and let God’s grace rewrite our future. Every believer is invited into a “but God” story, no matter how far off course we’ve gone. [42:57]
3. Suffering Does Not Mean Abandonment Paul’s life after his conversion was marked by hardship, but he counted it all joy because Jesus was his treasure. Following Christ does not guarantee an easy path; in fact, it often means greater challenges. Yet, God’s presence in suffering is where we discover His faithfulness and our true identity. [48:12]
4. God’s Plans Are Greater Than Our Failures Even when we fall, relapse, or face closed doors, God is not finished with us. He has a thousand ways to redeem our story, as seen in my own journey through addiction, loss, and eventual adoption. Our failures are not the end; they are the backdrop for God’s redemptive power. [51:21]
5. Daily Practices Anchor Our Faith Simple, intentional habits—praying first thing in the morning, reading Scripture, doing secret acts of kindness, and inviting others to church—keep our hearts aligned with God. These practices are not about earning favor, but about making space for God to move and shape our lives. [59:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[39:19] - Reflections on Last Week and Recovery
[40:22] - Humanity’s Need for Recovery
[41:05] - The Foundation: John 3:16
[41:49] - Saul’s Early Zeal and Misplaced Priorities
[42:21] - When God Slips from First Place
[42:57] - The “But God” Testimony
[43:37] - Saul’s Downward Spiral
[44:14] - The Battle for Priorities
[46:06] - Saul’s Encounter with Jesus
[47:37] - Paul’s Suffering and Perseverance
[49:25] - My Story: Sobriety Without Christ
[51:21] - God’s Redemption in My Life
[55:18] - The Breakfast Ministry
[55:46] - Struggles with Infertility and Loss
[57:11] - Adoption and God’s Provision
[58:47] - God Wants to Be Number One
[59:55] - Four Practical Steps for the Week
[61:39] - The Invitation to a “But God” Story
[63:15] - Prayer of Commitment
[64:40] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 3:16 (ESV) — > “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Acts 9:1-19 (ESV) — > (The story of Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Read as a group or individually.)

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — > “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Observation Questions

According to John 3:16, what is the foundation of our hope and recovery as believers?
In Acts 9, what happened to Saul on the road to Damascus, and how did it change the direction of his life?
The sermon mentioned that even after Saul (Paul) surrendered to Jesus, his life was filled with suffering and hardship. What are some specific hardships Paul faced after his conversion? ([47:37])
The speaker shared his own story of addiction and recovery. What was the turning point that led to real transformation in his life? ([53:38])

Interpretation Questions

Why does the speaker say that “when God slips from first place in our lives, everything else becomes disordered”? What does this look like in Saul’s story and in the speaker’s own life? ([42:21])
The sermon describes “but God” moments as times when God steps in and changes the direction of our lives. Why do you think God often waits until we reach the end of ourselves before intervening?
Paul’s life after meeting Jesus was not easier, but harder. Why do you think following Jesus sometimes leads to more suffering instead of less? ([48:12])
The speaker says, “God’s plans are greater than our failures.” How does Romans 8:28 support this idea, and how did the speaker experience this in his own journey? ([51:21])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to put God first, not second or third. What is currently competing for first place in your heart? What would it look like to intentionally put God above that this week? ([42:21])
The speaker shared about daily practices: praying first thing in the morning, reading Scripture, doing secret acts of kindness, and inviting others to church. Which of these habits is hardest for you to practice, and why? ([59:55])
Think about a “but God” moment in your own life—a time when God stepped in and changed your direction. Are you willing to share that story with the group? If you haven’t had one, what would it look like to invite God into your current situation? ([42:57])
The speaker and his wife faced disappointment and loss, especially with infertility and adoption. How do you typically respond to disappointment? How might you look for God’s greater plan in the midst of setbacks? ([56:43])
Paul “counted it all joy” to suffer for Christ. When have you experienced hardship as a result of following Jesus? How did you see God’s faithfulness during that time? ([48:12])
The speaker said, “God wants to show off His goodness in our lives when we put Him first.” What is one area of your life where you need to trust God to provide or redeem? ([58:10])
The sermon ended with an invitation to recommit and put Jesus first. Is there a specific step you feel led to take this week to make Jesus number one in your life? ([01:03:15])

Sermon Clips

What is but God story? It's the testimony of a person whose life was going one way. Then God steps in. That person answers the call. Their life completely goes another way. And then we say stuff like, I was going this way, but God. I was going straight to hell, but God. I was a drug addict and alcoholic, but God. I was about to have an affair, but God. I had an affair. God stepped in, redeemed my marriage, but God. [00:42:57] (38 seconds) #ButGodTestimony

When your number one priority, which is supposed to be our relationship with God, falls to the second or third place, the second or third place goes up to the number one priority. That's the problem. I've already said it. Every day I wake up with this idea I want to serve God. And I'm not saying every day, but a lot of days I serve the phone. My first thing should be on my knees. God, what are we doing today? Thank you for waking me up. Let me go minister to my wife. [00:44:11] (30 seconds) #PrioritizeGod

When God calls, we either listen to the call and receive our but God testimony, or we continue on our own path and receive less that he has planned. We get in the way with those plans and designs. [00:45:06] (16 seconds) #AnswerTheCall

I was sober many years. And sober means, like I used to have a problem with drugs and alcohol. And then I gave them away, and I didn't have a problem for years. And so I was sober like six years, seven years. But I didn't have the Lord. I had me. And that was all I thought about. I woke up in the morning and thought about me. And I went to the gym, and I thought about me. I went to meetings, and I thought about me. When I spoke, I spoke about me. That was all about me. [00:49:28] (29 seconds) #SoberWithoutGod

When I said yes to God, he said yes to me. And we started this little breakfast ministry because in our church, the big church we were going to at the time, they have a full restaurant. I think we have a restaurant too. So like in that area. And we started inviting people to the 8 a.m. service because we worked at 9. We worked at about 10. And we started inviting people to the 8 a.m. service and we started buying them breakfast. We called it the breakfast ministry. And we went to the alcoholics and I was telling people we found Jesus at work, found Jesus and inviting everybody like you do into the breakfast ministry, which is if you come to church, we buy you breakfast. [00:55:02] (32 seconds) #BreakfastMinistry

Man, I thought this would be easier. God, I thought this would be easier. I thought following you would be easier. And we went to an adoption agency. We got kicked out of the adoption agency because of my past record. And now we have a baby room built and we can't have a baby and we can't adopt. But God, a woman comes to our house and do a home study. And by the time this happens, and if you don't know what home studies, they got to make sure that you're worthy of having an adoption of a baby. And by the time this happens, our house is like very Christian house. We got giant Jesus. We got holy water coming out of the sprinklers. We got a lot of stuff. [00:56:51] (37 seconds) #TrustGodsTiming

God wanted to show off. And I want you to know something. God wants to show off in your life, but you got to put him first. He's not going to compete with the second, the third or the fourth, not even your kids. He's not even going to compete with your kids. He wants to be number one. He created us because he loves us. And he wants to be number one in our lives. [00:58:41] (26 seconds) #GodWantsFirst

First of all, the first thing is, when you wake up in the morning, get on your knees and talk to God. Don't even touch the phone. Nothing good is coming from that phone yet. An hour later, good things come from the phone. But the first thing, don't touch that phone. Second thing, pick up the Word of God in print and read the Bible and see what God wants you to do. Third thing is, we want you to do something nice for somebody and don't tell them. One thing every day, at least minimum, one act of kindness without telling anyone every day. [01:00:04] (40 seconds) #MorningWithGod

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