A Christian Flag

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Scripture: Psalm 20:1-6 (NIV)

1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.

3 May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.

4 May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.

5 May we shout for joy over your victory

and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

6 Now this I know:

The Lord gives victory to his anointed.

 

Devotion:

 

            Psalm 20 is a psalm of victory for the king. It indicates the celebration that the people hold when their king has won a great victory. We still celebrate victories large and small. A couple that comes to mind are the Chicago Cubs raise the “W” banner after a victory. Likewise, the Pittsburgh Pirates raise the “Jolly Roger” (the pirate flag) to celebrate a victory. The Christian church should have a flag to raise in celebration when we win a victory over sin and death.

 

            Just as a victorious king carries banners to celebrate his victories, God’s people should proudly display a banner of victory over sin and death. The crusaders carried the cross into battle on their shields so long ago so should we carry the cross into battle everyday as we fight against the darkness that is rolling across this land. Our symbol must not be political as we do not fight for an earthly king or political party. But it must represent the sacrifice that God’s soldiers make on the battlefield of our culture.

 

            I am no artist, so I cannot draw a suitable flag for the church. The enemies of the church already have and proudly display their flags. Flags of every color of the rainbow fly proudly across our land and overseas. Yet the church, failing to see the symbolism in these flags refuses to fly a flag of our own. We maintain that flags are a form of an idol, and we will not bow down to any flag. Instead, we wrap ourselves up in the American flag declaring that the stars and strips will be our banner.

 

            Not realizing that such patriotism is misguided and misplaced. It is idol worship at its worst. This nation was not built by flag carrying Christians. It was built on those who stood up for the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must stand up for the cross of Jesus if we are to win the struggle for these United States. The U. S. Flag has been coopted by those who seek to undo our freedom. A  better flag would be one with a blood red cross on a field of white. Or lacking that one of a coiled snake saying, “Don’t tread on me.” Let us pray for our great country:

 

Prayer:

            Lord we see the signs of decay at decadence all around us. Let it be a rallying cry for us to do what is necessary to bring revival to our land. A true great awakening that will challenge every source of evil and wrong-doing in our land. We must depend on you for our help. There is nothing we can do to save this nation from the destruction that awaits us. We beg you Lord help us in our weakness Amen.

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