REPOST Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on January 21, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in the First Trump Presidency”
1 Timothy 2:1-3
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.”
Since immigrating to America in 1974, and prior to the 2016 election, I have lived under seven presidents (beginning with Gerald Ford). None of them have been quite like the current one—perhaps none ever have. Every president, whether Republican or Democrat, receives his share of the good, the bad, and the ugly when his administration is evaluated. Yet many on the political left seem poised to make an exception with Donald Trump. They will undoubtedly highlight a litany of negatives associated with him: several people close to the president facing imprisonment for illegal activities, as well as multiple investigations into his campaign and even his foundation. The political right, however, will counter by pointing to record-low unemployment and NATO allies finally increasing their defense spending in response to Mr. Trump’s firm stance.
So how should we evaluate the performance of the current president?
As a pastor with a working knowledge of Scripture, I can confidently say that although the Bible was completed long ago, it still speaks clearly to many contemporary issues—same-sex marriage (Rom. 1:26–27; 1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:31), the sanctity of unborn life (Ps. 139:14–15), and unjust labor practices (James 5:1–6), to name a few. Yet Scripture does not speak with the same clarity on other matters, such as whether to build a wall to secure porous borders (something many politicians on both sides have supported), whether to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or whether to withdraw remaining U.S. troops from Syria.
Therefore, if I am to bear prophetic witness to Donald Trump’s presidency, I must do so on the basis of issues Scripture addresses plainly—leaving no room for your opinion or mine.
Evaluated through that lens, one unequivocally good development during this administration is the weekly Bible studies held in the White House. Several top officials attend, including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. As believers, we should be grateful that the President allows these leaders to gather in the White House to “humble themselves and pray and seek [God’s] face” (2 Chron. 7:14) as they navigate complex issues that inevitably leave some dissatisfied. Of course, it would be even better if the President himself joined them—something worth praying for in 2019.
But what about the bad—what some would call the illegal? For example, is building a wall immoral? There may be legitimate reasons to oppose it, but as CNN anchor Chris Cuomo—of all people—remarked, “Wanting barriers along the border is not propaganda. It’s not immoral. It’s not wrong.” The truth is that while the intensity surrounding Trump’s alleged misdeeds has reached a fever pitch in some media circles, the key allegations against his campaign remain unproven; some have already been debunked. The most recent claim—that Trump instructed his former lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress—was denied even by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Nevertheless, it is true that Trump committed adultery with an adult-film actress before becoming president and paid hush money for reasons still unclear. That is unequivocally wrong, and he ought to apologize. Sadly, I would not be surprised if, in time, Trump’s wrongdoing outweighs whatever good he may have accomplished. For now, however, I cannot speak against alleged misconduct related to his campaign until facts are confirmed. If and when they are, we will mourn and call our president to repentance.
Meanwhile, there is much confirmed ugliness in the current presidency. So what would the prophet Nathan or John the Baptist—who confronted King David and Herod Antipas, respectively—say to our President if they were his spiritual advisors? We need not guess. Pastor Eddie Kim of the Church of Southland expressed it well in an August 19, 2018, sermon, from which I quote:
“I don’t mean to get too political here, but I am going there. Whether you like President Trump or not, economists say that our economy is actually steady; as a matter of fact, it is actually booming and growing. Even foreign policy experts and analysts are saying that despite the crazy rhetoric and schizophrenic policy of this administration, there is a weird stability around the world. Even the Iranian pastor who spoke at the AMI conference last week mentioned that the U.S. policy toward Iran right now is actually helping the people—something you don’t hear about in the news. Now, the sad reality is no matter how well this economy does—we could have zero unemployment; we could have Middle East peace and world peace—this presidency sadly will always remain controversial. And that’s because our president comes across as lacking humility.”
The absence of humility—also known as pride—looks ugly on anyone, including the most powerful person in the world. And so we pray for our president. That is our duty, for we are commanded to offer “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings…for kings and all who are in high positions” (1 Tim. 2:1). Pray that President Trump will “humble [him]self before God” (2 Chron. 34:27). Then let us pray the same for ourselves, for we need humility just as much as he does.
Prayer: Lord, we pray for President Trump, the man whom You chose to lead this nation at this moment. God, cause him to humble himself before You and cry out for Your grace and mercy. Remind him to seek forgiveness for his sins and Your righteousness to govern our nation. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: John 14
Lunch Break Study
Read Daniel 4:28-37: All this [the king’s dream] came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. Nebuchadnezzar Restored 34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Questions to Consider
1. In what way is our President similar to King Nebuchadnezzar?
2. In what form did the humbling of this mighty king take place?
3. What do you suppose this king realized while he was roaming in the wilderness for 7 years?
Note
1. Nebuchadnezzar was an egotistical king who truly believed that his success was due to his own doing; and it was all for his own glory. A person like that shares credit with no one. It sort of reminds us of a man who used to fire people on his own reality show.
2. God stripped him of everything, even his humanhood. This goes to show how hardened Nebuchadnezzar’s ego was. To this end 1 Peter 5:5a says, “God opposes the proud.”
3. He reached the end of himself. It took 7 long years for him to realize a simple lesson: God is everything and I am nothing. Jesus puts it: “For apart from me you cannot do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). The second half of 1 Peter 5:5 says, “But [God] gives grace to the humble.” That grace was manifested through his men who searched for Nebuchadnezzar to restore his kingship.
Evening Reflection
As we began the day praying for our President, let us end it by praying for him again. There is no doubt that he has become such a polarizing figure that many of us simply do not like him. Yet he also inherited a nation already deeply divided by what is often called “identity politics,” which prioritizes the needs of certain historically marginalized groups while largely overlooking many of the people who helped elect him. I am veering off course here—but it is a complex job, one that turns every president’s hair gray quickly.
Know that God placed Mr. Trump in office for reasons that are clear to Him and largely a matter of guesswork for us. So pray for the President and for Vice President Vance, as well as for your senators and governors. That is our responsibility.
