‘But’ is a conjunction used to introduce something, used to indicate the impossibility of anything other than what is being stated.
‘Now’ concerns the present time—current, immediate, instantly, at this exact moment.
“Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen,” Ephesians 3:20-21 (CSB).
“And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him,” Hebrews 9:27-28 (CSB).
“The word of the Lord came to me: I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. But I protested, ‘Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.’ Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, ‘I am only a youth,’ for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s declaration. Then the Lord reached out his hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with my words. See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant,” Jeremiah 1:4-10 (CSB).
Jeremiah was a major prophet, coming from a household of priests. He was divinely called by God to prophecy. So often we deny the calling of God, immediately after learning of the vision God reveals in our lives. We don’t see the manifestation possible, or perhaps it’s too difficult to handle.
God inserts a ‘but now’ in our lives when we doubt the plans He has prepared for us. God calls us to purpose, not for ourselves, but for others. God introduces us to something new, and sometimes in an instant, in a moment.
We must become willing to be led by the Spirit of God into our divine purpose in life. We have one life, and were created to have one death. It is up to us if we choose to die twice.
Christ is coming again to bring salvation and reunite us with God the Father. You have been appointed [designated, prearranged] by God for this time.
Just as God called out Jeremiah, we are being called out today by God. Today is a day of spiritual realignment in your life. God is proclaiming and depositing strength in your life today so that you can carry out the will of God over your life.
Just when we feel down or defeated, God steps in with more encouragement to let us know that we are His children. He made us for such a time as this. You will be given the words to speak, the authority and dominion in the earth, and the confidence in the Spirit to declare His words.
You have been appointed! You were chosen and set apart before you were even born. As you were formed in the womb, God’s plans were already in place.
If the way, the promise and blessings have been pre-made, why do we constantly question God’s call?
God does not call you into something He has not already prepared for you. Every instance within the scriptures, we find God calling those into ways that have already been divinely made.
Just when you want to speak and go about things your own way, God responds with a ‘but now!’
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, [be] glory and majesty, Dominion and power. Both now and forever. Amen,” Jude 1:24-25 (NKJV).
Will you accept your ‘But now’? Are you willing to take heed to an instant introduction to something? This is your day!
“For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen,” Ephesians 3:14-21 (CSB).
