What Flag Are You Flying?

The American flag flying upside down signifies dire distress or extreme danger, while flying at half staff indicates mourning or remembrance. Communicating with flags, particularly in a maritime setting, involves using a system of visual signals, where flags represent letters, numbers, or specific messages, allowing ships to communicate at a distance. The white flag is an internationally recognized sign of truce or ceasefire. It is also used to symbolize surrender. We recognize things by what characterizes them. If someone described something to you with the words leaves, branches, trunk, and oranges, you’d most likely say, oh that’s an orange tree! And you’d be right. The tree is known for these characteristics. The same is true when it comes to being a believer in Christ. Jesus said on several occasions, a tree is recognized by its fruit.

Matthew 12:33 ESV Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 

Your actions always speak louder than your words. If you profess to be a Christian, the world is watching you no matter how insignificant you may think you are. No matter what you say if your actions don't align with your words, all those who are watching will pass judgment on you and everything you have said that contradicts your actions will be ignored and held with little or no regard! True believers in Christ are recognized not by what they say they believe, but by how they live their lives on a daily basis. Before the invention of the radio ships used flag signals to communicate their intent. So my difficult question for you today is what flag is your life flying? What message is your life communicating to those who you work and spend time with daily? If you profess to be a Christian the world should be able to see a person who has truly changed, a transformed life!

Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

So what are some Christian characteristics that should be easily recognized by the world? Let's start with obedience, believers trust God to be in charge of their life. They say yes, to what God asks them to do. Obedience is a characteristics of a believer that makes them easily recognizable. Forgiveness is another trait that should be easily recognizable in every believer! Christians should forgive much, because they have been forgiven much. You should have an abundance of grace for forgiving others, knowing that God has forgiven you with an immeasurable grace in your life! Meaning, purpose and priority, should be characteristics of a Christian. Believers in Christ should live with renewed meaning and redefined purpose. They no longer live for themselves but for Christ and His Kingdom. Their focus and priorities become centered around what pleases the Lord! Most importantly a believers life should be characterized by love! Love for God and love for others. Believers must realize that loving God means also loving others. You should begin to love and sacrifice for others the way Jesus did. Believers love others because Christ first loved them. 

 John 13: 34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

So what flag is your life flying? Is there enough evidence for others to see your life and say, there’s no doubt your unmistakably, unquestionably, a believer in Christ!