{"id":253,"date":"2012-11-30T19:46:29","date_gmt":"2012-12-01T01:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=253"},"modified":"2012-12-10T19:53:49","modified_gmt":"2012-12-11T01:53:49","slug":"when-push-comes-to-shove","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=253","title":{"rendered":"When Push Comes To Shove"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou watched while a stone was cut without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.\u201d Daniel 2:34-35 NKJV<\/em><\/p>\n

The producers of television survival shows have tapped into a ubiquitous and not very attractive component of human behavior: prejudice. Make no mistake; the term has much broader application than the usual racial context to which we fasten it. Prejudice is present in the plot by executives to create for themselves a golden parachute at the expense of the employees whose labor actually built the company. It\u2019s obvious in the mass murders of entire groups of people in other nations \u2013 the ones we\u2019ve always heard about and always will, ethnos epi ethnos<\/em> (Matthew 24:7). Prejudice is curled around the drawn-back fist of a deacon coming to blows with his brother over a church split.<\/p>\n

Prejudice simultaneously creates alliances and divisions, and it trumps all other values in play. It has been with us since Cain and Abel, and it will be in the earth until the Lord binds that old serpent Satan and throws him into the pit.<\/p>\n

We saw a great deal of prejudice in this last election. If we\u2019re honest, many of us felt prejudiced against our acquaintances, friends, and family whose political views were different from our own. Many times, this prejudice has its roots in our nationalism, our sense of identity as Americans. We\u2019re worried about our country and its future.<\/p>\n

I love America. I believe she is the best nation on the planet. I believe that since our birth as a nation, we Americans have given more to the world than we have received in return. I truly do. I further believe God has and will honor the goodness of our founders and their ideals. I believe He will honor the blood men and women have shed in defense of those ideals.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the United States of America is not the Kingdom of Heaven. It will not endure eternally. It had a beginning and it has an end. As with all the governments of men represented by Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s statue, one day it will be carried away on the wind like chaff.<\/p>\n

But we do have an enduring kingdom, and we\u2019ve entered the season to celebrate the birth of our King. As Isaiah wrote,<\/p>\n

For unto us a Child is born,<\/em>
\nUnto us a Son is given;<\/em>
\nAnd the government will be upon His shoulder.<\/em>
\nAnd His name will be called<\/em>
\nWonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,<\/em>
\nEverlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<\/em>
\nOf the increase of His government and peace<\/em>
\nThere will be no end,<\/em>
\nUpon the throne of David and over His kingdom,<\/em>
\nTo order it and establish it with judgment and justice<\/em>
\nFrom that time forward, even forever.<\/em>
\nThe zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.<\/em><\/p>\n

There will be no end to the increase of His government and peace. World without end.<\/p>\n

Beloved, when push comes to shove as it surely will, remember only one prejudice is worthy of us: The zeal of the Lord. It\u2019s the only prejudice worth being hated for.<\/p>\n

Those who hate me without a cause<\/em>
\nAre more than the hairs of my head;<\/em>
\nThey are mighty who would destroy me,<\/em>
\nBeing my enemies wrongfully;<\/em>
\nThough I have stolen nothing,<\/em>
\nI still must restore it.<\/em><\/p>\n

I have become a stranger to my brothers,<\/em>
\nAnd an alien to my mother\u2019s children;<\/em>
\nBecause zeal for Your house has eaten me up,<\/em>
\nAnd the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (Psalm 69:4,8,9)<\/em><\/p>\n

Lord, let Your passion consume Your people! Especially here. Especially now.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Melissa Kay Simonds<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou watched while a stone was cut without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Mo02-45","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1578,"url":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=1578","url_meta":{"origin":253,"position":0},"title":"Nativity with a Capital N","author":"lsimonds","date":"December 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,And deep darkness the people;But the\u00a0Lord\u00a0will arise over you,And His glory will be seen upon you.The\u00a0Gentiles shall come to your light,And kings to the brightness of your rising.Isaiah 60:2-3 About a year ago, I was having my hair done, watching the young people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2020"","block_context":{"text":"2020","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?cat=20"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1205,"url":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=1205","url_meta":{"origin":253,"position":1},"title":"The ACME Anvil","author":"lsimonds","date":"March 9, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.\" Hebrews\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2019"","block_context":{"text":"2019","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1441,"url":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=1441","url_meta":{"origin":253,"position":2},"title":"Pandora’s Jar","author":"lsimonds","date":"May 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWe now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.\u201d 2 Corinthians 4:7 New Living Translation I came to Christianity as a young adult, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2020"","block_context":{"text":"2020","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?cat=20"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":412,"url":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=412","url_meta":{"origin":253,"position":3},"title":"Time Is On Our Side, Yes It is","author":"lsimonds","date":"September 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThrough the LORD\u2019s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. \u2018The LORD is my portion,\u2019 says my soul, \u2018Therefore I hope in Him!\u2019\u201d Lamentations 3:22-24 This from Lynne Twist, founder of The Soul Of Money Institute, \u201cFor me,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2014"","block_context":{"text":"2014","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?cat=11"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1292,"url":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=1292","url_meta":{"origin":253,"position":4},"title":"Discriminating Tastes","author":"lsimonds","date":"August 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\"But he answered him not one word...\" Matthew 27:14 The first thing rookie writers learn when they join a writers group that practices read and critique is to accept criticism without countering with a defense. \"No defending!\" bark critique veterans as soon as the writer opens her mouth to explain.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2019"","block_context":{"text":"2019","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":164,"url":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?p=164","url_meta":{"origin":253,"position":5},"title":"Enlightened Entitlement","author":"lsimonds","date":"May 31, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cLet nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.\u201d Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV On April 3 this year tornados skipped\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "2012"","block_context":{"text":"2012","link":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=253"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":255,"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253\/revisions\/255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/melissakaysimonds.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}