While most of the main points in movies are hammered home in the plot, often to the point of overdoing it, I usually find the most wisdom in the “throw away” lines that nobody else notices. Maybe that’s why nobody ever knows what movies I am quoting….hmmm. Anyway, I had a recent experience where one of those random lines that nobody notices got stuck in my head and I just can’t get rid of it. So I hope that it will leave me alone if I write about it in my blog. Let’s find out.
Have you seen the movie Courageous by Sherwood Pictures? If you haven’t, you should. It’s definitely their best film yet. At some point during the film, a few of the main characters find themselves in a tight spot. Luckily, backup arrives at the last minute to help them save the day. As they are talking about the situation afterward, one police officer says to another, “Thank God for backup.” Then they move on to the next scene without any elaboration or further discussion.
“Thank God for backup.” Man, it is always so tempting to do things on your own. We all want to be independent, right? People dream about not having to be dependent on others. The problem is that we can’t always do everything on our own. We all need help at some point. ♪ Everybody needs somebody sometime…♪. And by the grace of God we are able to surround ourselves with other Christians that love us, support us, and are eager to help us when we are in need. We have a steady supply of people standing by to step in and save the day.
The Bible tells us that if we step up and support “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine” as their needs arise, it is as if we are doing these things directly for Jesus Himself. We often visualize this as feeding the hungry, healing the sick, or spending time with those that are lonely. However, there is another side to that statement. At one point or another, all of us will be one of “the least of these.” It is a guarantee that, just as we are called to serve other believers, we will have the opportunity to allow others to serve us. We will be hungry, in need of clothing, lonely, thirsty, or sick. We will all be in situations where we just cannot make it on our own. Thank God for backup.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)
Have you ever needed of backup that showed up at just the right time?