Recently I was watching a primary school project online in which the children who came from a variety of nations were asked to bring in a picture of the flag of the country they or their parents originated from.
It was fascinating to watch the project evolve as they brought their flags and started to talk about their homeland; some knew very little about it so they had to talk to their parents and grandparents and were delighted to discover things about who they were.
There was a growing sense of pride as they explained this to their fellow classmates and interestingly a growing sense of togetherness as they realised they all had fascinating stories to tell and they were all individuals with their own identity representing another part of the world with its culture and traditions. Conflicts began to cease and friendships sprouted as they focussed on their togetherness and not their differences.
God gives you a flag
It’s almost like when you are born God gives you a flag with your name on it that represents who you are. He crafted your beautiful eyes, nose, mouth, hair, legs, toes, arms, hands, fingers – I mean, NO-ONE else in the world has the same fingerprints as you! There may be times when we wish we had the eyes and body of that airbrushed model in Grazia magazine but God is delighted with you and wants you to be too. The truth is that God says “This is my daughter and with you I am well pleased.”
Along with what we see on the outside, he puts lots of hidden jewels on the inside, our temperament, character, passions, skills, likes and dislikes. In Psalm 139 we read that we were put together in the depths of our mother’s womb, every intricate detail is the work and plan of a creator Father and God.
The gifts and passions and skills that are part of you are who he intended you to be. Sometimes we don’t recognise ourselves as a gift and we don’t see ourselves as having any particular talent but you are the apple of your Heavenly Father’s eye. You were created and wanted from the start – nothing about you is a mistake ; you are a genuine masterpiece. All of this is on your flag and it’s totally unique!
God also has a flag – a Kingdom flag which represents all He is, his power, sovereignty, passions and gifts . His desire was never for you to be a stand alone flag. Flags need a context and a setting in which to be shown.
God’s purpose is for you to be seamlessly sewn onto His flag. The bible tells us that as Christians, when we put our trust in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, that our lives are hidden in Him, that we are new creations. Your identity is now in Jesus who died for you and rose again. The bible says; “My life is hidden in Christ”- Colossians 3:3, your flag is part of the kingdom flag.
That doesn’t mean you lose your intrinsic self – who you are and who you were created as. In his Kingdom you are now His beloved daughter; a daughter of the King and he has given you all the riches of His Kingdom.
Remember, flags were meant for flying and to be seen – be proud to be flying on the flag of God’s kingdom, know that your heavenly Father is delighted to have your flag, your story and your gifts.
Rejoice that God has called you by name and made you unique as it is but also part of his greater family with all its unique gifting and callings that reflect his Kingdom! Let’s get out there and fly our flags proudly together!
