Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalm 50:15

Help.

That's a pretty easy word to understand. "Help" means I need assistance; it means my normal resources are not able to take care of this situation.

Recently, a woman in Laval, Quebec, made a 911 call to the local police department. In that call she said she needed help.

It appears she had picked up her 15-month-old son from daycare and then had accidentally locked him -- and her keys -- in the car.

With heat warnings out and no ventilation, the temperature inside the vehicle quickly became intolerably warm. When she saw her child turning red, she made the call.

According to the woman, she says the 911 operator declined to send police to assist her in rescuing her son. She says she was told "it's not an emergency; you have to take care of yourself."

Now before I go any further, I should tell you the child was rescued. The woman's husband used a hammer to break the car's rear window and rescue the child. All told the boy was locked in the car for about 10 minutes.

As far as the police are concerned, they're investigating what happened. They're not sure whether there was a breakdown in communication or if the woman was told to "take care of the situation herself." Either way, a spokesman for the officers has gone on record as saying, "This is a type of call that police do go to and respond to."

There is no communication breakdown between the Triune God and His people. In the Psalms and throughout Scripture, the Lord has said He is there to rescue us. "Call upon Me," the Lord says, "I will deliver you." There is no suggestion that we are on our own or that we need to take care of things ourselves.

Indeed, in the Person of Jesus Christ, humankind has been given the ultimate delivery. The traps of sin, Satan, and the world -- the traps which would have hurt us and killed us -- have been made safe by the Savior's life, suffering, death, and resurrection.

In Jesus we have been delivered and now we can -- with confidence -- call upon His Name in thanksgiving and praise.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, on my own, I was held captive. I was lost. Now, by Your suffering and sacrifice I am saved. May I always reflect a spirit of gratitude for what You have done. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Kings 24-25    Acts 16:1-21

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