Yesterday was flag day. It isn’t really a day we celebrate and we hardly even notice. If it were not marked on my calendar, it would be forgotten. When the Revolutionary War began in 1775, most of the regiments participating in the war were fighting under their own flags. There was no common flag. On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress officially traded in the old flags and created a new flag to unite the new country with a common symbol. A symbol that stood for freedom and opportunity.
The United States of America is a great nation and the flag still stands for freedom and opportunity. We are not a perfect nation, because we are a nation made up of imperfect people. Our nation is in turmoil around some of the recent events and actions of others. We are shocked and outraged by these actions. But, why are we so surprised? Why are we in such shock? When a nation increasingly turns away from God and the truth and we begin to seek our kingdom and our rights more than we are seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, this is the result. We don’t want God in our schools or in our courts. As a nation we have taken great strides in removing God from society. Christians begin to follow people more than Christ. We focus on getting what we want and looking out for ourselves first. We live lives in contradiction to the Biblical teachings. Even some of the men and women we have looked to as leaders in the church have begun to turn away from God. Then we expect the world to behave and hold to a decent, moral standard that we have already turned our own backs on.
Why does this behavior surprise us? We look to ourselves and our own wisdom for answers. Everyone has their own thoughts and ideas on how to solve this. But the answer is not in laws. Laws do not change the heart of a man. The answer is not in justification and punishment. Fear may drive us to certain behaviors, but it does not change the heart of a man. The answer does not lie in our own wisdom. The answer lies in a revival. A turning back to God and to the love of Christ. Jesus says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. What we need is a revival.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Luke 6: 43-45
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4: 8-9
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7: 13-14
Despite all of the problems with this country, I still love this country. Despite all of the failed people around me, and despite my own failings, the flag still stands for freedom and opportunity. People from all over the world are risking their lives and their families to come to America because of the freedom and opportunity that abounds here. What we need is a revival… a turning back to God.
I hope you have a great week and you will join me for these next six and a half days and more, praying for revival in our communities, our nation and our world. But most importantly, you will spend these next six and a half days praying for revival in ourselves.
Comment below how God is moving in you this week as you seek revival in your life.
I have been making the flag decorations in this post and they are available for purchase for $15 + shipping. If you would like to purchase one, comment below or message me on Facebook. I also have a matching Texas flag. They are great for a desktop or mantel. These are 6″ x 9″.
Thank you for the reminder. When I started “stressing” about the situation in the United States, I realized I wasn’t relying on God. My prayer each day is more concentrated on giving everything to God so I’m not anxious about anything as we are instructed in scripture. I pray daily for our country to seek God. By the way, I think you’re flags are awesome!