A Flag to Follow

The Shocking Message



These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008. They were written by a Godly lady for other ladies young and old so that their walk with the Lord may be strengthened.

Used with permission from New Beginnings Baptist Church.




As I was musing over the 4th of July and the meaning behind it, I decided to read again about the life of Francis Scott Key, the man who penned the words of the Star Spangled Banner. You all know it well (or should!) yet I am going to include the first verse below, which says:

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming:
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

A particular portion of that song really stood out to me that we will reflect on today…

AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE,
THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR,
GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT,
THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.

As Christians, I wonder how many of us, when the "bombs burst in the air" of our lives, when those trials come - do they give proof through the night - proof in the dark and trying times, that our flag is still there?? What flag, you say? Our Christian flag! As Christians, we have a flag to follow and a flag to fly - that flag is the testimony of Jesus Christ our Savior! As others watch our lives and observe the sufferings and persecutions that we go through, the flash of those attacks should reveal to them that our flag is still flying, that we are fighting back and staying strong in the midst of our spiritual battles. When the fight is on and the flag is down, such is proof of defeat... We give one another hope when we spot our flags still flying! Just as there was a star spangled banner flying high that brought hope to many a tired and wounded American soldier long ago, there is a blood stained banner, a royal banner that offers Christian soldiers hope until the Lord calls us home or comes back for us! Keep your flag flying high; you could be responsible for prohibiting someone else from abandoning the fight by offering devout encouragement and strength through your witness…

Psalm 60:4
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

We discover here that a banner or a flag is given by God for us to display, not to be hidden! A banner, a flag, is given for a specific purpose - to send a message to those who gaze upon it and that important message is truth and victory! This is precisely why we need to keep our flags flying! Ladies, God is holding us accountable for what He has given us. Don't let the truth die.... Oh, how this nation needs it!

In a moment of silence before the Lord, consider how your Christian testimony is holding up amidst the battles of life today... Is the flag of truth and victory still flying high in your life, or is it shot up with holes, no longer holding the same message? Are you a pennant of defeat or proudly displaying a life of trust in God? You see, the testimony of Jesus Christ and the testimony of the American flag both inspires and motivates those who are weary and worn because of the power of their living testimony…

There's a royal banner given for display
To the soldiers of the King;
As an ensign fair we lift it up today,
While as ransomed ones we sing.

Though the foe may rage and gather as the flood,
Let the standard be displayed;
And beneath it's folds, as soldiers of the Lord,
For the truth be not dismayed.

Over land and sea, wherever men may dwell,
Make the glorious tidings known;
Of the crimson banner now the story tell,
While the Lord shall claim His own.

When the glory dawns - 'tis drawing very near -
It is hastening day by day-
Then before our King the foe shall disappear,
And the cross the world shall sway.

Marching on, Marching on,
For Christ count everything but loss!
And to crown Him King, toil and sing
'Neath the banner of the cross!

Ladies, we've got a flag to follow and I for one am thankful!! Who would you and I look to if it were not for Jesus Christ our Lord, the greatest leader of all time? Who else could possibly spur us on, and motivate us in the face of strong opposition to keep doing right if it were not for His victorious flag to follow?

I sought a flag to follow, a cause for which to stand,
I sought a valiant leader, Who could my love command;
I sought a stirring challenge, Some noble work to try,
To give my life fulfillment, my dreams to satisfy.

I sought a ringing answer for all my doubts inside,
A torch of truth uplifted, My searching steps to guide;
I sought a word of wisdom, A true authority,
I sought to know life's purpose, to solve it's mystery.

I sought for satisfaction, for yearnings deep within,
I sought for full deliverance, from chains of guilt and sin
I sought for peace and pardon, for freedom from my fears
I sought a hope to cling to beyond these passing years.

I found them all in Jesus, the Life, the Truth, the Way;
Beneath His flag I'll take my stand and follow Him today!

These words beautifully express what your flag and my flag waving in the sky of our lives represent to a lost and dying world. People are seeking after satisfaction, full deliverance, peace and pardon, hope, wisdom, truth, authority, purpose - all of these things! When they look your way, will they find the answer flying high? Will your life represent to them that all these things can be found in Jesus because you have first found them and have firmly taken your stand beneath His precious flag?? Does the red of your flag represent the Way of the cross to the lost - through the blood of Jesus? Does the white of your flag represent the Truth of the cross to the lost - proving the words of the Lord are pure words? Does the blue of your flag represent the Life of the cross to the lost - while you live presently in this world as a child of the King, certain of your eternity as royalty? Yes, your life IS a message of something.... it's a flag to follow! Where are you leading those in the sphere of your influence? May it be straight to the cross of Calvary!

In an oration delivered before the Washington Society of Alexandria on February 22, 1812, Francis Scott Key declared:

"The patriot who feels himself in the service of God, who acknowledges Him in all his ways, has the promise of Almighty direction, and will find His Word in his greatest darkness, 'a lantern to his feet and a lamp unto his paths'. He will therefore seek to establish for his country in the eyes of the world, such a character as shall make her not unworthy of the name of a Christian nation."

Like Francis Scott Key, I pray that all of us as children of God would diligently seek after godly character that would alter and improve the reputation of our fallen nation; a once great nation that has now turned it's back on God. Whenever you set your eyes upon the American flag, remember that as Christians, we too have a flag to follow and a flag to fly - the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ! Follow it, display it, and march on to victory bringing countless others with you!

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello Meet Ms. Pam

Other Rise and Shine Devotionals
New Beginnings Baptist Church Website