A Church with a Heart for our Community

June 14th Tuesday

Greetings to you in the name of “Jehovah Nissi”-the Lord is my banner…Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour! I look out the window this morning and say…”Wow!” – this is the day that the Lord has made! I trust that you had a great weekend filled with all the things that make life satisfying and I trust that your Monday was a positive day as well. Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to release the particular blessing into your life that you have been asking Him for.

I have at least three calendars that tell me that today is “Flag Day” – a day set aside to celebrate an historical event and in this case – the adoption, in 1777, of the American flag. However, I am not always content to simply leave things alone, so I went looking for references to flags or standards or banners in the Bible. I know that there is a verse we sing – “His banner over me is love!” and there is an old song that says – “So we’ll lift up the banner on high, the salvation banner of love…”  and there’s – “Onward Christian soldiers…forward into battle see His banners go” and one more – “Ho, my comrades, see the signal waving in the sky … See the glorious banner waving, hear the trumpet blow…Hold the fort for I am coming, Jesus signals still – Wave the answer back to heaven – By thy grace we will.” I like the usage of the word in song because that is how it is used in the Bible.

‘Flag-banner-standard” in the Bible is used to depict: a “rallying point or a signal of where the battle is happening or a sign of a defensive position or to indicate and identify a particular tribe.” However, the best usage of the word is when God is called…”Jehovah Nissi” – the Lord is my banner. Simply apply the definitions, the Lord is my rallying point, the Lord is in the midst of the battle, the Lord is our point of defense, and/or the Lord is the one I belong to – identify with. 

On this “Flag Day” – I want to draw your attention…raise a flag, if you will…over one verse that I believe needs to be celebrated everyday: “Jesus said…But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” – John 12:30a, 32 NIV … “”Jesus said….”And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” – John 12:30a, 32 The Message. Jesus Christ is “Jehovah Nissi” – the banner under which we gather together and find refuge and strength and identity. In that context, every day is “Flag Day” so let’s celebrate!

Be blessed today!