The Work of God Displayed in a Life

As I'm reading my Bible, today, these words from John 9:1-3 leaped off the page at me.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him,"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

Many will look at our boys and see their differences and may ask, "Who sinned to cause this child to be different?" I assure you that Marty and I have seen God's purpose in Joseph's life clearly on display this week. It was not because anyone sinned that our boy was born with an extra chromosome, but simply to allow the work of God to be displayed in his life.

We so often question whether a Holy, Righteous God loves us. The miracle that is happening for our boys should prove without any doubt that God loves each of us. That he would take the time to move heaven and earth for an extra-special orphan boy means he is compassionate in his care toward each of us. Whether or not Joseph ever learns to talk or walk (and we believe that he will do these things) his life will forever display the work and glory of God. We will share his testimony, the one about a boy frozen in time, waiting 6 and 1/2 years to be chosen. Waiting for someone to be obedient to God's call and to snatch him back from death. You see not too much longer and Joseph would have been transferred to a different kind of place, a sadder place, where he most likely would not have survived. God called and we obeyed and Joseph's life has the fingerprints of God all over it.

He was not born with Down Syndrome, because someone sinned, but so that God could receive the glory for the work he would do for Joseph. He sets the lonely in families and our family is overwhelmed by his greatness in allowing us to love this lonely child. He will come home and grow and learn about Jesus and be a favored son of the house. The work of redemption and restoration started this week and will continue for many years to come for Joseph.

If you're considering adoption, consider the next words of Jesus in John 9:4-5.

"As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

The voice of Jesus calls. He longs for us to be a light in this dark world, to do the work the Father has laid out for us. There are many more lonely children waiting for families. Won't you join us and watch as God performs miracles in your own life and the life of a child?

Pray, Adopt, Advocate, Support...Do Something, the night is coming.

Hidden in Christ,
Mandy