You have set up a banner for those who fear you. Psalm 60:4a
There may be two sides to every story, but I have to admit, I’m kind of on Dan Towbin’s side. According to a story filed last week by the Associated Press, Dan Towbin is man who likes the American flag. Dan is the owner of an automobile dealership who recently received permission from his local city council to put up a 100-foot flag pole.
On that 100-foot flag pole, Dan is flying a 30x60 foot American flag. (That is roughly the size of a competition volleyball court.)
Dan’s patriotism has not been without its critics. Officials in Dan’s town have now decided the flagpole is too high. Other folks in the neighborhood of the dealership say the flag’s flapping is too loud, and still others have said that Dan is using the flag as an advertising tool.
In answer to all of those who are finding fault with his flag Dan has replied, “The American flag stays. . .we never sold a vehicle based on a flag.”
As of this writing, the battle for the flying of the flapping flag continues to be fought. It’s anyone’s guess how that battle will turn out. As for me, armed with the facts which I’ve been given, I’m cheering for Dan. Although he may never have read Psalm 60:4a, Dan understands this: if you’re going to have a banner, you need to set it up in a place where people can see it. If you’re going to have a banner, you need to place it in a location where people can be brought to it, and where they can rally around it.
Those are the purposes of a banner.
Those are also the purposes of the cross of Christ.
Two-thousand years ago God allowed His banner of salvation to be set upon the skull-shaped hill of Calvary. On the cross of Calvary, the Lord’s innocent Son gave His life as a ransom for guilty humankind. From then until the end of time, the cross of Calvary will continue to be the single banner that needs to be seen by sinners. By God’s grace, it will always be the banner of forgiveness for all who are convicted of their transgression. It will remain as the only banner that can rally the lost and give them eternal life.
The cross is God’s banner which every Christian is privileged to lift up so all may know ‘God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have everlasting life.’
THE PRAYER: O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee. Help us lift high the cross and proclaim the love of Christ until all the world adores His sacred Name. In Your Name I pray it, Amen.
Prayer from the hymn “Lift High the Cross”. Text: George W. Kitchin and Michael R. Newbolt.
Today's Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 16 Psalms 42,44 1 Corinthians 10:1-18
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