Our Daily Bread: Called to ServeExemplo

Officer Miglio’s Heart

Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father. —Matthew 18:10

Officer Miglio slumped wearily against the armory wall. A domestic violence call had just consumed half his shift. Its aftermath left a boyfriend in custody, a young daughter in ER, and a shaken mother wondering how it had come to this. The tragic scenario would wear on the young officer for a long time.

“Nothing you could do, Vic,” said his sergeant sympathetically. But the words rang hollow. Some police officers seem able to leave their work at work. Not Vic Miglio. Not the tough cases like this one. 

Officer Miglio’s heart reflects the compassion of Jesus, who loved children and had a stern warning for any who would harm them (Matthew 18:6). But Jesus gave us some instructive hope along with that warning. Calling a small child to Him, He told His disciples, “Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (v. 3). 

What did Jesus mean? Simply this. We can’t earn God’s favor. Even the toughest and most competent of us needs a childlike faith in Jesus. That’s why Jesus also said, “Anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (v. 4).

Earthly families can fail their children. Not so, our heavenly Father, who invites us through childlike faith in Jesus to become His sons and daughters. 

Tim Gustafson

Jesus is the only hope for our hurting world.