Tuesday; June 14

Today is Flag Day. Over the last few years our society has diminished the importance of nationalistic symbols, but today, I would like to pay honor to our nation’s flag. Flag Day pays tribute to the Second Continental Congress who passed a resolution on June 14, 1777 that stated, “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white”. The document went on to say, “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation”. While the banner would change to represent the growth of the United States, the same basic design remained and, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14 as Flag Day. While our nation has experienced our share of challenges, one symbol that has stood tall is the American Flag. It is more than shreds of cloth sown together, it represents the fabric of our nation that is united in dedication to the concept of shared liberty and freedom.

As I thought about the American Flag, I was reminded of another “banner” that represents something special. Have you hear heard the phrase, “His banner over us is love”? Do you know where it comes from? It is actually taken from Solomon’s love story where the bride responds to her lover’s praise by saying, “He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.” (Song Of Solomon 2:4). Through the years, this phrase has been taken out of Solomon’s love story and applied to God’s relationship with His people. No, we don’t have a physical banner we fly over us, rather what we have is an overwhelming feeling that exists between us. God loves us enough to save us, we love Him enough to serve Him and His people love each other enough to support one another.

Today, let’s honor the nation that allows us to worship God freely by respecting the cloth banner that represents who we are. Yet, even more importantly, let’s bring honor every day to the God who created and sustains us by wrapping ourselves in genuine love.

Think About It!

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