How I Became an “Unlikely Angel” (True Story)

How I Became an “Unlikely Angel” (True Story)

One morning, I was driving my kids (Luke and Levi) to school and my wife (Robbie) to work. On our way, we saw an old lady lying on the ground in the middle of a basketball court. It looked strange to us because she was just huddled there in the middle of a basketball court!

Was she sick, was she dead? I saw her, noted the strange sight, and felt a bit uneasy about it, but that was about it. I would have gone on with my day for the most part. My wife, on the other hand, who has a strong motivational/redemptive gift of mercy* (the aspect of Jesus that is moved deeply by human suffering and is motivated to relieve it – Romans 12:8), was terribly upset, couldn’t get the image off her mind and wanted to go and help immediately. Everything in her cried – we have to help.

So she asked, should we go back? I’m thinking 1) what can I do and 2) the kids must get to school. But I, too, felt uneasy about what I saw, and I knew that Robbie wouldn’t be at rest, so I said I’d go back and check on her after I dropped everyone off at their respective destinations, and that’s what I did.

I arrived at the spot, and she was still lying in the same spot on the ground, covered in sheets, clothes and rags. She is homeless. I asked if I could help. She told me she wasn’t feeling well because she was hungry. So we decided to go to the bakery nearby. As she walks to my car, she begins to shout to all the neighbours and passers-by, “God sent me an angel to help me; a lot of people passed me by, but God sent this angel to help me.” As she is saying this, I am quiet in my heart.

We drove to the bakery, and literally, everyone she saw on the street said to them – “See, God sent me an angel; you can trust God.” Again, I am quiet in my heart. We get to the bakery, and she begins to pick up a few things, and then she preaches a sermonette in the store! “God is in control, and He opens up the hearts of men to cause them to show compassion” She then hugs me repeatedly and tells others that I came to help her. I am quiet in my heart. On our way back to the car, she shouts to a police officer – “This guy came to help me; God sent Him; if I had a love like this, I would behave better”. I am quiet in my heart.

Lastly, I took her to the pharmacy to get some antibacterial ointment for a sore she had in her mouth. I told her to wait in the chair, and I would get what she needed. She comes in behind me and says, “I am homeless, and this man came to help me”. I can see the faces of the attendees, shocked and bewildered; it is the exact look they had in the bakery – shock and bewilderment. Nonetheless, one of the attendees in the pharmacy gave me some free supplies to help her. Then I dropped her off by a relative with whom she didn’t have a good relationship, but she asked me to take her there, ending our encounter.

These are the things I learnt from Jesus that day.

• Jesus gifts everyone in the body differently, and we need every person to play their role to express a particular dimension of Jesus. The church is not just teaching. The impulse of Christ’s mercy in Robbie then moved me to action, which in turn blessed this lady—this is body life.
• People recognize when an act toward them originates in God because they instinctively praise God, as she kept saying, “GOD sent me an angel.”
• I have a long way to go in my growth to be like Jesus; even though I was happy to let the indwelling Christ in me live out His nature through me towards her – I also felt my scorn at times with her dirtiness, dribble and germs. When she kept hugging me, I struggled. But my JESUS TOUCHED THE LEPER!  He is in me, but He is OTHER THAN ME- Oh Lord, make me more like you.
• Everyone, from the police to the shop attendants, security guards, and pharmacy helpers, couldn’t help but stare. The agape of Jesus is not a common thing—in fact, it’s not even a human thing! When people see it, they instinctively know God is at work, and Jesus is glorified—even through a struggling, scornful vessel like myself.
• Even though my emotions did not match up with what I wanted – Jesus honours obedience, and he will continue to sanctify me until I can touch the leper just like Him.

-Lastly, in the bakery, as I looked upon her bruised face, ragged clothes, and dribbling lips- Jesus reminded me that’s how I looked to Him before I got saved…and He came to me in my ugliness, drew close to me and saved me, covered me, feed me, and clothed me, and that thought gave me fresh vigour to serve this lady.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE MOST MAGNIFICENT PERSON I HAVE EVER MET!!!!!

Adrian Reid

Serving God`s people by illuminating Jesus Christ until He becomes the central and universal obsession of His church, and helping His people live out their calling as sons and daughters of God where they live as priests before God, brothers and sisters to each other, and a kingdom community of creative servants for the world.