ASSOCIATE WITH THE LOWLY

Adults have been using the 911-Dispatcher for all the wrong reasons. We read in the news about people calling 911 to complain about their McDonald’s order not being correct. They dial 911 to report a dealer who sold some bad cocaine. Grown adults even dial 911 to get the dispatcher to side with them in an argument with their spouse.

A Call

So none of us can object when a child calls 911 because he’s overwhelmed with homework. The 911-Dispatcher, Antonia Bundy of the Lafayette, Indiana Police Department didn’t seem to mind. She took the time to listen to his problems and then help him with the answers to his questions.

The boy was having trouble with math—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions. Bundy patiently listened as the boy read each math problem. She jogged her mind to remember what she’d learned in school and then helped him with each answer. The boy profusely apologized for calling the emergency number, but thanked her for her help.

Antonia has been praised on the social network for her act of kindness. No emergency was too small for her to help. No customer was beneath her profession to serve. If only we could all make room for others who seek our help for their little problems! If only we could incorporate a lot more kindness and compassion in the labyrinth of bureaucracies! Our world would be a much friendlier and tolerable place.

Nothing’s too Small for God

The good news is that God Himself associates with the lowly and neglected. “Thus says the high and lofty One, whose name is Holy, who inhabits eternity, ‘I dwell in the high and holy place. But also with the sorrowful and humble person—in order to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the sorrowful” (Isaiah 57:15). That is the message of the Incarnation and humiliation of Jesus. He who dwelt at the Father’s right hand for all eternity (John 17:5), came into this world in the lowliest possible way. Born in a stable, cradled in the arms of His mother, and laid in a farm animal’s feeding trough (Luke 2:7–12).

That’s how Jesus came into this world and that’s how He lived His life. Jesus never “pulled rank” to take shortcuts. He never maneuvered His way to the front of the line. He never traveled first class. And no matter how busy Jesus was in His divine mission to save the world, he always took time for the little requests. He stopped what He was doing to bless the little children who mothers brought to Him (Mark 10:13–16). He performed a miracle so one of His disciples could pay a tax debt (Matthew 17:24–27). Even when Jesus hung from the cross to purchase our redemption, He took time to make sure His mother Mary would be cared for (John 19:26–27).

And Jesus hasn’t changed His habits. He still makes time for the smallest requests of the most insignificant people. Yes, the Creator, the God of the universe, who upholds everything—from the tiniest subatomic particle to the most massive galaxy—can still focus His attention on you. His eyes are always upon you and His ears are always open to your cry (Psalm 34:15). Christ gives grace to the humble, but He opposes the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). So be like Jesus and never be hesitant to associate with the lowly (Romans 12:16).

PRAYER:

Dear Father in heaven, hold Christ’s example of humility and love before my eyes. May it always remind me of Your contempt for arrogance and Your love for lowliness and kindness. Grant that I will never be guilty of dismissing others as unworthy of my time and attention. For Jesus left His throne in glory to live in this miserable world, suffer a cruel and humiliating death, and now He lives to intercede for me. Day by day, O God, make me more like Him. Amen.