By Pastor Douglas Brauner

The Flag of our Faith

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

With the summer Olympics about to begin, let me ask this question, (especially if you plan on watching the opening or closing ceremonies); how many flags contain the colors, red, white, and blue? You might be surprised to know that there are over fifty national flags that incorporate these three colors.

These colors do more than make flags look pretty. There is significance behind every color on the flag, especially the flag of the United States. Red stands for bravery and courage. White represents purity and innocence. Blue symbolizes vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

It shouldn’t surprise us that these colors also have meaning in our walk with God, and are the base colors on the Christian flag.

Red represents the blood of Christ and his courage to die on the cross for us.

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
1 Peter 1;18-19 New Living Translation.

White represents the gift of Christ’s righteousness in which we have been clothed.

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
Romans 3:21-22 English Standard Version

Blue represents the new life that we have in Christ through our baptism into him.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:26 (ESV)

More than likely, you will see these three colors today as you walk in your neighborhood, sit across from a coworker, or visit a store. (I took this picture as I strolled the harbor of Marquette, Michigan.) You will see the colors, but will you see them as symbols of what Christ has done for you? I hope you will.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado