Who's Got Your Back?

I just recently returned from a youth retreat and the theme for our weekend was: Who's got your back? When you hear the phrase, I've got your back, It leads us to a place of confidence, companionship, security, relationship. It’s hilarious, in the last 2 weeks, I’ve heard that phrase come up so many different times. I was down at our theater with my family watching Ice Age 3. (Which BTW is hilarious!) There was a scene where the saber tooth tiger says to his new friend, I’ve got your back. Then a couple weeks ago, I was playing short stop at a church softball game and I overheard our right center-fielder tell our left center-fielder, I got your back.

Those words bring life! Each of us have a longing to be loved. When we know that someone has our backs, it makes us feel loved. There is nothing more encouraging. There is nothing that propels you to greater things. There is nothing that energizes us more. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that someone has our back.

Now, as an associate pastor, I have many roles in our church. I’m the youth pastor. I oversee Christian Education. I preach on occasions. I run the Anchor (our Christian youth center). I visit people in the hospital. I meet with people for counseling. I’m officiating a wedding next month. These are all important roles. But, in addition to knowing Christ, my primary role is to support our senior pastor. As his associate, it is my primary role to support him. No matter what, I need to be loyal, I need to pray for him, I need to be there for him. I have his back no matter what!

Unfortunately, too many people in this world will turn our back on us. We may have a best friend who loves us one day and then leaves us the next. When storms come into our lives, we need to know that we have someone who will support us, love us, be there for us no matter what. We may receive this from our parents, we may receive this from our children, we may receive this from our spouces, we even may receive this from friends. However, there is a love that exists that is far greater and more sufficient than any human love and that is the love that we receive from our Heavenly Father.

Check out these verses:
Proverbs 18:24 “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

My desire is for you to know beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus has your back. That no matter what you do, what happens to you, no matter where life takes you, Jesus has your back! He loves you, He died for you and He lives today to be your best friend!