The English flag is a red cross on a white background and associated with St George and today is the day we celebrate St George.
In 1940 King George VI created the GEORGE CROSS medal for “acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.” It is the second highest ranking medal and given mainly to civilians. It is valued at £120,000.
Children will study the story of St George the dragon slayer. But here are some interesting facts:
He wasn’t English, but born in Turkey.
He wasn’t a knight but probably a Roman officer.
He never visited England.
He never slayed a dragon.
He doesn’t belong only to England but other nations like Ethiopia and Portugal.
We celebrate an historical figure today yet much of the stories attached to his life are only legends.
But one thing is true. He was a martyr for refusing to worship false gods and that is where the honour for courage comes. George carried the cross.
Throughout the centuries people have lived and died by the courageous cross.
The cross is the greatest accomplishment, nothing else.
“As soon as enough people give you enough compliments and you’re wielding more power than you’ve ever had in your life, it’s not that you become … arrogant … or become rude to people, but you get a false sense of your own importance and what you’ve accomplished. You actually think you’ve altered the course of history.”
—Actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
There is only one who has altered history and his name is Jesus. His accomplishment was through the cross. It is still the mark of the mission-sent disciple.
Broken people carry the cross in their heart; it is easy to see the nail prints and the thorn damage; they walk with a limp; they have been pierced, marked by God.
“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10 v 38-39)
Today maybe you are being forced to carry something that was unexpected and you have not been able to refuse it, you could do nothing about it, it seemed it was chosen for you. Some would say it was fate and an unlucky roll of the dice. However you describe it, one day you woke up and your life changed forever. You are now carrying the cross following Jesus. You are walking in His footsteps. You are following the road and even to death.
You may have many questions revealing your deep reluctance and anxiety. However, your children are watching you. Your family and friends are around you. There is a generation in wonder at you. How will you do? What will you say?
Will your family be able to say when you are long gone, he/she carried the cross of Jesus?
What is the cross for you today that you are carrying?
Is it George’s cross, the cross of courage? If it is it belongs to Jesus.
Missions Paul 