Jesus in Disguise

This past Sunday, I witnessed "Jesus in disguise". I (Paul) was walking in the lobby of our church in between services, and I greeted a man and his wife, who shook my hand and then handed me an envelope. Recognizing that this envelope was given for a specific reason, Mandy and I opened it and noticed a large sum of money that was designated for our adoption. In the card was a short note saying, "money for one way ticket to USA" (meaning it was meant for Levi to come home with us). After Mandy and I got over our initial reaction of being both humbled and overwhelmed, I picked up the phone and called this person.

When "Jesus in disguise" answered the phone, I immediately said "thanks". My friend had already heard why Mandy and I were adopting, so I simply wanted him to know that we truly appreciated his extremely generous gift (which became so much more significant to us knowing that I had very little relationship with him and his wife). What followed in our 4 minute phone call impacted Mandy and me. He said that when he was a young boy, he always wanted to be rescued. He desperately wanted someone to come and rescue him from his childhood. He then told me that no one ever came, and he was never rescued. The reason why he and his wife gave us this sum of money was because he knows what it feels like not to be rescued. This drove him to be a part of what we are doing in adopting Levi. He then asked if the money could be used to fly Levi back to America, because he wants to "be a part of this rescue."

This is powerful. It's powerful for two simple reasons. First, he and his wife hardly know Mandy and I. This is a true picture of unselfish and selfless love. Secondly, this was powerful because our friends embodied Jesus...to give and expect nothing in return. We had and will have nothing to offer our friends, except the word, "thanks". They gave to "the rescue" knowing that they would get nothing back from us in return. The applause of God is all over this couple and their love for God and Levi.

This is Jesus living. This is "Jesus in Disguise".