Carrying a banner means something.  First, it means that you belong to or have to do with those whose banner you carry, and that you are not ashamed of them.  At great Sunday-school festivals we know to which school a boy belongs by the flag that he carries.  You would like to carry the flag of England or the Queen’s royal flag, because you are English and loyal.  So let us carry the banner of Jesus Christ because we are loyal to Him, and are not ashamed to own Him as our King.  Secondly, it means that we are ready to fight, and ready to encourage others to fight under the same banner.  When you are tempted to do something wrong remember whose banner you carry, and do not disgrace it.  If one does right, it makes it easier for the other to do right too.  Thirdly, it means rejoicing.  You know how flags are hung out on grand days, and carried in triumphal processions.  The little hand that carries Christ’s banner through His war, will carry it also in His triumph; the little hand that tries to unfurl it bravely now, will wave it when His glorious reign begins and His blessed kingdom is come.  Then, “in the name of our God we will set up our banners” now!

    “The Master hath called us, the children who fear Him,
      Who march ’neath Christ’s banner, His own little band;
    We love Him, and seek Him; we long to be near Him,
      And rest in the light of His beautiful land.”

24.  Twenty-fourth Day.

Soldiers.

   “Chosen to be a soldier.”—­2 Tim. ii. 4.

Are you a soldier?  You ought to be, for you have been chosen to be a soldier in the glorious army of Jesus Christ.

You ought to be, for you have been “received into the congregation of Christ’s flock” at your baptism, and engaged “manfully to fight under His banner against sin, the world, and the devil, and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto your life’s end.”  You can never undo that, even if you are a deserter, and found in the enemy’s ranks.  The Captain of our salvation will not undo it, for He is ready to receive you, if you will but come and enlist now.  Now, this very morning, come and enlist!  This very morning ask Him to receive you into His noble army, and to give you first the shield of His salvation, and then the whole armor of God, and to “teach your hands to war and your fingers to fight,” and to give you victories every day even now, and to let you share His grand triumphs hereafter.

Perhaps you know that you have enlisted already, you know and love your Captain, and He is enabling you, even if very feebly, yet really, to fight the good fight of faith?  How came you to enlist?  Was it any credit to you?  Oh no! it was all His doing.  It was He who chose you to be a soldier, not you who chose Him to be a Captain.  And then He sent not some dreadful cannon roar, but the sweet bugle-call of His love to win you to join His ranks.  And now He fights not only with you, but for you.  In His war “nothing shall by any means hurt you,” for “He was wounded” for you.  Your life is safe with Him, for He laid down His own for you.  By His side you can never be vanquished, because He goes forth “always conquering and to conquer.”