The big news late this week has been the ongoing deterioration of the romance between Pres. Trump and Elon Musk. President Trump even threatened to cancel contracts and subsidiaries with Elon Musk if he continued speaking out against the president and his agenda.
The president demands loyalty and total allegiance from anyone who works with him or is associated with him. President Trump has proven his Obsession with earthly power:
- Greedy
- Deceptive
- Manipulative
- Uncompassionate
Like the prideful narcissist he is, the president desires control and wants to be praised. The president embodies the characteristics of what the New Testament calls an antichrist. The Greek word for antichrist, antichristos literally means the opposite of or in place of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:2-4, 1 Timothy 4:1).
The president has declared he isn’t pleased with Elon Musk because the president expects people to do as he pleases and sees fit. Despite what MAGA conservatives believe, we can only please one master at a time (1 Kings 18:21, Matthew 6:24-26).
What Is Please
We all must make a choice about who we serve and who we want to please (Joshua 24:15). Our sinful flesh and this fallen world are the opposite of God, we cannot please both; despite what many false teachers claim. Please is defined as, “To afford satisfaction; gratifying.”
God’s people are called to love and serve God only (Deuteronomy 10:12, Romans 12:11). We serve God by seeking His Kingdom and not our selfish wants or earthly greatness (Luke 12:31).
It is foolish to think that we can have it both ways pleasing ourselves or this world and God (Mark 3:23-26). That is why the Bible has some much to say about pleasing God and doing what is right (Proverbs 16:7, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:4).
God’s people don’t please God or do what is right to be saved; we do them because we are saved and different from this fallen world (1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 2:5). The world lives for itself and idols of pleasure and power (Proverbs 21:17, Philippians 3:19).
God’s people listen to His Spirit and do right to please God (Romans 12:1-4, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 5:9, Galatians 1:10; 2:20, Ephesians 5:8-10, Philippians 2:13, Colossians 3:23). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about doing what is right and pleasing God.
Yāṭaḇ
Since the fall in the garden, the Torah teaches us man’s sinful nature has been corrupted (Genesis 3:6-7, Deuteronomy 32:32-33). The entire Bible warns us about the sinful heart and flesh of man (Psalm 51:5-10, Jeremiah 17:9). Our natural man has a sinful craving to please himself and seek out temporary pleasure and greatness.
God called His people to be holy and different, we live to serve and please God instead of ourselves (Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 7:6). The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for please is yāṭaḇ and it can also mean, “Do right, make well, rejoice, or be glad,” depending on the context it is used in.
God gave Israel the law to help them obey Him only and not their fallen hearts or temporary idols. The 10 Commandments emphasize loving, serving and pleasing God:
- I am the Lord thy God, you shall have no other God before me.
- Don’t make idols.
- Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
- Honor your mother and father.
- You should not kill.
- Do not commit adultery.
- You shouldn’t steal
- Do not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- Do not covet.
Jesus reminded His followers to do what is right by God and not to listen to their selfish nature (Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21-22). That is why Jesus emphasized the need for His followers to deny themselves daily; Jesus knew that they couldn’t please God and themselves (Matthew 6:24; 16:24).
He reminded them of the fundamental Jewish teaching about not listening to our evil hearts (Jeremiah 17:9, Mark 7:20-23). That’s why he taught them to pray for God’s will instead of theirs (Matthew 6:9-10).
Jesus was willing to do God’s will, even if it cost Him His life (Luke 22:42). Jesus was willing to do the right thing and sacrifice Himself because He knew we couldn’t keep the law.
SCOTUS
In other big news this week, the Supreme Court of the United States gave access to social security numbers to DOGE. The Supreme Court has been compromised and paid for by Trump to do His bidding since his first term.
Many conservatives like having the majority in the Supreme Court so that they can get what they want legally and politically; however, this tipping of the scales of justice is wrong spiritually and ethically.
God does not show favor or bow to please us (Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 10:12, 1 Timothy 5:21, James 2:9). We serve a God who is the opposite of man’s selfish nature.
- Just
- Loving
- Forgiving
- Long-suffering
If we are the people of God and a Christian nation, we must become more like God and less like this selfish world. We must be loving, kind, generous, forgiving. We cannot practice the ways of the world or be unjust, even when it causes hardships.
Jesus left us the example to follow (1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 2:21). Despite what Pres. Trump and MAGA believe, God is only one we must yāṭaḇ (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37)!
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