EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS?

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…”

(Ephesians 5:1-2)

 

A story is told of a group of salesmen who went to a regional convention in Chicago a few years ago.  They had each assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for dinner on Friday night.  As they were rushing through the airport with tickets and briefcases in hand, one of the salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table holding a display of apples.  Apples flew everywhere.  But, without stopping or looking back, they managed to barely reach their plane in time for the last boarding call.

ALL BUT ONE!  He paused, took a deep breath, waved good-bye to his buddies, and told one of them to call his wife and explain that he was catching a later flight.  Then he turned around to help the girl whose apple cart had been overturned.

He was glad he did.  The 16-year old girl was blind!  She was crying softly, with tears running down her cheeks in frustration, as she helplessly searched for her spilled apples with throngs of people swirling around her, and no one stopping to help.  The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.  As he did so, he noticed that many of them had been battered and bruised.  He set them aside in another basket.  When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did.  Are you okay?”  She nodded through her tears.  He continued, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…”  He paused and turned to look back at her.  She continued, “Excuse me, sir, are you Jesus?”

Have you ever been mistaken for Jesus?  Has anyone every asked, “Excuse me, are you Jesus?”  Isn’t that our goal as God’s children?  If we claim to know Him, we should also live and love like Jesus.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am once again honored to be one of your dearly loved children.

May my life be a reflection of Your Son who loved me and gave Himself for me.

As I rub shoulders with others throughout the day, may they see Jesus in me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.