Mistaken Identity

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

1 Corinthians 11:1


In World War 2 an off duty German soldier walked into a donut shop along a narrow street dressed in full military garb. With a brown paper bag in hand concealing his delicious delicacies as he left the shop he passed a young boy sitting near the shops entrance. As the soldier passed by his eyes met the young boy and the two shard more than just a passing glance. They were acutely aware of each others presence and yet not a word was spoken between them. As the soldier continued down the sidewalk something inside him prodded him turn around as the young boy continued to watch. Without speaking a word to the young boy the soldier came back and stopped directly in front of the young lad and reached down and handed him the bag of donuts he had just purchased. Surprised, shocked, and somewhat afraid the boy couldn’t muster a word in the moment and the soldier not requiring one simply turned around and walked away. The boy opened the sack to see a few fresh baked donuts and smiled. Within a few seconds the young boy yelled out to the soldier who was just a few yards away by this time, “hey mister” to which caused the soldier to stop and turn towards the boy still sitting on the curb. The boy shouted out, “are you Jesus?”

Mistaken identity, but what an identity to be mistaken for. Oh that you and I could have the joy of being mistaken for Jesus today! In reality we can. Every conversation, every opportunity that presents itself to us today is an opportunity to imitate Christ, to do what Jesus would do if He was walking in our shoes and living His life through me and you. After all, it was Jesus Himself who said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Study the life of Jesus today, read the Gospels and consider the words Jesus spoke and the deeds Jesus did in ministering to the needs of others and ask God to lead you to the very people He desires that you share His life with. Thats what it is to imitate Christ.

Every person, every encounter today is an opportunity for us to experience for ourselves “mistaken identity”. Oh how the world needs to see Jesus today!


“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

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