OFFICER MIGLIO'S HEART

Officer Miglio’s Heart

See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:10

READ MATTHEW 18:1–10

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Back at the police station, Officer Miglio slumped wearily against a wall. A domestic violence call had just consumed half his shift. Its aftermath left a boyfriend in custody, a young daughter in the emergency room, and a shaken mother wondering how it had come to this. This call 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. Christ’s disciples had just come to Him with a question: “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). Calling a small child to Him, He told His disciples, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (v. 3). Then He gave a stern warning to anyone who would harm a child (v. 6). In fact, children are so special to Him that Jesus told us, “Their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (v. 10).

How comforting, then, that Jesus’s love for children is connected to His love for us all! That’s why He invites us, through childlike faith, to become His sons and daughters.

By Tim Gustafson

REFLECT & PRAY

Our earthly families may fail us, but our heavenly Father never will.

Remind us always, Lord, to love children as You love them, even as we come to You with the trusting faith of a small child.

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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Jesus not only taught about caring for children, but He practiced it. He restored Jairus’s daughter to life (Mark 5:35-43), delivered a demon-possessed girl (Matthew 15:21-28), and rescued a demoniac boy (Mark 9:14-29). In all these cases, our Lord also showed great compassion for the parents who deeply cared for the welfare of their children. Bill Crowder