For patriotic occasions this lesson, I trust, will prove to be of
value to you. Too much front space cannot be given our flag.
Lawlessness and defiance to our Constitution is everywhere
pronounced. Use the flag often, and show that we, as Christians, love
our flag because it preaches the gospel as well as America's
independence.
Secure a number of little flags, ask the children in the audience to
come forward and occupy the front seats, then pass out to them the
flags. Let them hold them in their hands as you bring out the gospel
lessons from the folds of Old Glory. Notice we have three colors in
our flag, red, white, and blue. The _Red_ teaches us that the gospel
declares that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. That is
the heart of the gospel. God loved the world and gave his Son for the
Cross. Every time I look at the red of the flag it makes me think of
Calvary. I am glad the red comes first in the flag. It is first in
the gospel also.
After this comes the _White_. This is correct also according to the
gospel. The blood makes the heart white as snow. Purity is a great
gospel lesson taught by the flag. After this comes the _Blue_ which
stands for faithfulness. We say of the boy who stands firm for the
right, "He is true blue." This is a mighty gospel truth. Faithfulness
is a rare virtue, but the gospel tells us, we must be faithful to the
end in order to be saved.
Now note the _Stars_. They make us think of the star of Bethlehem and
the sweet Christmas story. Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star, and
he seems to be looking down on us from the star field of the old
flag. Then as I look again the stars of the flag seem to say that,
"They that be wise shall shine forth as stars." Then I pray that as
these forty-eight stars represent our forty-eight States, so may the
Star of Bethlehem be the national star of every State in our glorious
Union.
Did you ever note the letters U.S. are the last two letters of
_Jesus?_
So may all the other letters of the word Jesus be spelled out in the
life of every true American, The J for Justice, the E for Eternity,
and S for Salvation. As I look at the flag again I learn the lesson
of the strength of organization. The Red, White, and Blue as separate
colors stand for themselves alone. Unite them in the flag, and they
stand defended by the Army and Navy of the country. Christians often
say they can live the Christian life outside the organized body of
Christians, called the church, but by so doing they stand alone and
for themselves. United in the church, they are backed by the greatest
organized power in the world, the church of Jesus.
I notice there are seven red stripes, which means that every day of
the week we should be true to our country and to our religion. Note
that here the red also comes first. There are six white stripes. Let
these stripes stand for the great wars which have been fought with a
clean sword, and so we learn that Old Glory is a preacher of
righteousness. Long may she teach in the land of the brave and the
home of the free.
Have a large flag on the pulpit, and ask all the children with their
little flags to come up and stand around it, while all the people
sing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and "All Hail the Power of Jesus'
Name."
This lesson can be used for a regular Sunday-night service for adults
as well as for children. It could be used as a national lesson--just
what is needed for Flag Day or Independence Day.
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