Allegiance

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3

In Children’s Church, we are studying about patriotism. We have been learning patriotic songs and discussing the similarities between physical freedom and spiritual freedom. Many of you have heard the children say the pledges to the American Flag, Christian Flag and the Bible. They are respectful and are beginning to understand the meaning of the words they are saying.

Many dictionaries state that the definition of allegiance is a duty of loyalty and faithfulness. I think the best description is “freely committed”. The pledge to the Christian Flag goes like this:

I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe.

Have you pledged allegiance to your Savior? Are you fully and freely committed? Are you loyal? Are you faithful?

The birth of the Christian flag was over 100 years ago. It was not purposely designed or thought out. I believe it was spirit led when the featured speaker for a Sunday School rally did not show up and an impromptu speech was required. In 1897, in a Coney Island Chapel, Sunday School Superintendent Charles C. Overton was put on the spot. The scheduled speaker did not show and when he took the pulpit, the American flag caught his eye. His impromptu speech addressed the words to the flag and their symbolism. It was then that the thought came to him, why not a Christian flag? It was conceived at Brighton Chapel, Coney Island, New York, Sunday, September 26, 1897 and was presented in its present form the following Sunday. Some people call it chance but I call it the plan of God.

The Christian flag is the only free flag in the world. It is uncontrolled, independent and universal. Why? Because your pledged allegiance to its symbolism must be given freely. Your loyalty and faithfulness must come from a fully surrendered heart to the Savior. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe.

Turn the last part of Psalm 40:3 into a question for yourself. Have many seen and fear the Lord because of my loyalty? Does the song in my heart and praise in my mouth cause others to trust in the Lord? Does my allegiance cause others to want to pledge also?

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15