“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” In 1923-1924, these words were inserted into legislation by the National Flag Conference. The text was written anonymously in 1892 by Francis Bellamy and published in The Youth’s Companion.
“Congress formally gave recognition for the Pledge of Allegiance on December 28, 1945.”1 The wording had been mildly adjusted to read, “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” As we read this, one phrase is missing. “On Flag Day in 1954, Congress added the words “under God” in response to the anti-Communist opinion sweeping the country during the Cold War.”2
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Today is National Pledge of Allegiance Day. Many of you are like me and you remember when the school day started with every student standing, hand over their heart, reciting these words. Some of our teachers would lead in prayer as well. President Trump wants to make America great again. I think it was pretty great when prayer and the pledge were in school! If only we could turn the clock back to that!
While it is important to nationally pledge our allegiance, have we thought about our spiritual pledge of allegiance and the fact that it needs to be renewed and reiterated frequently? I’m not speaking of salvation. I’m speaking about what comes after salvation, our public declaration that we align on the side of the Lord, and this is where we will remain.
The Israelites experienced many times like this. One such time was led by Nehemiah as the Jews were entering a restored and repaired Jerusalem. Nehemiah 9:38 and 10:29-31 says, “And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it…Nehemiah 10:29-31 They clave to their brethren, their
nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; (30) And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons: (31) And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.”
This was their pledge.
As New Testament believers, we see a call to pledge our allegiance in Romans 12:1-2. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” LIVING sacrifices can remove themselves from the altar. Therefore, this pledge needs to be renewed daily, sometimes hourly or even ever minute.
One of the first visible signs of allegiance comes in our baptism. Romans 6:3-4 says, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Daily, our allegiance is demonstrated by our obedience. We choose to serve the Lord and the Kingdom of God. We choose to live under the rule of the King of Kings. We choose to 
submit to His authority over our lives. This choice is only logical considering all the Lord has done for us.
Let 1 Peter 2:9-10 remind us that our citizenship is in Heaven, we have a King above all others, and our calling to this kingdom and King is worthy of our allegiance. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
1https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/pledge-of-allegiance-day-december-28
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