So far this week, the big news is about how the GOP-led House voted to enforce the War Powers Act to limit the President. Trump’s authority and use of military force in Iran. The Act or resolution was first enacted in 1973 over concerns about unauthorized military use by Pres. Nixon during the Vietnam War.
This resolution provides a roadmap for Congress and information for Congress to make decisions about war with the president, thus limiting the president’s power to use military force as he chooses.
Of course, the president didn’t like having his authority questioned or limited and responded to Congress’s decision by verbally attacking the GOP representatives who sided with Democrats to check his power, as the Constitution requires.
No wonder the president believes he is our only hope for a savior and deliverer; he has deceived himself:
- Prideful
- Obsessed with power
- Unloving
- Greedy
If that weren’t enough, this week president also boasted about his “Intellect and leadership skills. ” The leader who claims to know God better than anyone is ignorant of His ways and commands for how God’s people are to be different (Leviticus 20:26).
We must be humble (2 Chronicles 7:14, Micah 6:8, James 4:10). And we must put others before our selfish wants (Philippians 2:3-4). We do not fight, but let God avenge us (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19). That is why God declared Himself the great “I Am” (Exodus 3:14).
What Is I Am
Our culture has thrown “I am” around so much that it has lost most of its power and meaning. Am is defined as “Present first-person singular of ‘be.” Thus, it is a declaration of authority.
The word “am” from an English perspective is a form of the word “be” and signifies a special qualification or characteristic. We use the phrase “I am” with other identifiers to distinguish or determine who we are or how we feel ( i.e., hungry, tired, first, last).
God uses the phrase to declare His authority over all and how His eternal nature is before and above all humanity (Exodus 3:14, Revelation 1:8). That is why the Bible has a lot to say about “I Am” (Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 41:10, John 8:12).
Usually, the phrase refers to God and His authority over creation and His people (Leviticus 19:28, Revelation 1:17). Sometimes the phrase is used by New Testament writers to describe the people who belong to God and His relationship as our master and Lord (John 11:25, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 2:10).
As God’s people, we can only serve one master or “I am”(Romans 6:16, 1 Corinthians 10:21, Galatians 1:10, Ephesians 6:7, Colossians 3:24). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about who God’s people’s Lord is.
Yᵊhōvâ
The Old Testament tells us how the Lord created the earth and mankind because He was before the beginning (Genesis 1:1-30; 2:4-17). The Lord is a formal name of God to His people who serve Him.
When God revealed Himself to the prophet Moses, He described Himself as the great “I Am” (Exodus 3:1-15). The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for I am and the name of God is Yahweh. However, many scholars pronounce it as yᵊhōvâ, which means “Lord, God, Jehovah, or variant,” depending upon the context it is used in.
That is why God commanded His people to keep His name holy and follow His ways versus the world’s (Exodus 20:1-17):
- I am the Lord thy God.
- You shall have no other God before me.
- Do not take the Lord’s name in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
- Honor thy mother and father.
- Thou shalt not murder.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
- Don’t bear false witness.
- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor.
After the New Testament writers explain the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-19), our Lord describes Himself with ”I am” statements to express His divinity and authority (John 6:47-50; 8:12, 58; 11:25, 15:5).
Our Lord confirmed His relationship to God the Father (Matthew 28:18, John 10:30). This is a direct reference to the basic nature of God (Deuteronomy 6:4). That is why the Disciples and the early church leaders often referred to Jesus as Lord (John 1:1-14; 20:28, Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 8:6).
Jesus’ deity affirmed His Lordship and power (John 1:1-14, Colossians 1:15-20). Our Lord made it clear that His followers could not serve two masters, just as God had warned Israel (Deuteronomy 6:13-14, Matthew 6:24).
White House Ballroom
In other big news this week, the GOP-led Senate stripped funding for the president’s new ballroom from their budget reconciliation package. It is becoming clear that the president is losing his grip and power over the GOP.
Of course, the president threw another temper tantrum and attacked the GOP senators for not bowing to his wants and whims at the taxpayers’ expense. The president is obsessed with earthly greatness and power, instead of obeying the God he claims to know.
He doesn’t understand what it means for us to be different from this fallen kingdom (Leviticus 20:26, 1 Peter 2:9):
- Humble
- Loving
- Forgiving
- Compassionate
I hope and pray that the president and MAGA will learn or remember God’s people are called to rely on God for their needs and peace instead of themselves or the ways of this world (Psalm 23:1, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:31-33, Philippians 4:19).
When we rely on ourselves, politicians, or the world, God isn’t our true Lord because we have turned to idols to save and deliver us. We cannot disguise worldly idols as blessings of God.
We cannot worship the creation over the Creator. God’s people only worship and serve Yᵊhōvâ!
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