Mistken Identity

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them…Matthew 7:20.

There have been many occasions that individuals have mistaken my husband and me for some very dear friends of ours and vice versa?

Why?

First of all, we practically have the same names:

            Don and Tammy Maxwell

            Dan and Tammy Morrison

You can understand how others could easily call one of us by the other name!

We each have three children who attended the same school…we attend the same church…and both Tammy’s work for the same employer, so you can easily see how others might mistake us for each other and not really know who is who at times!

However, this confusion could cause lead to misunderstandings or interesting situations!

Several years ago, a member of our church came up to me and said…”I ran into your husband at the airport the other day as he was waiting to catch his flight”.

I quickly responded…”Excuse me?  My husband hasn’t traveled out of town lately”.  This dear lady quickly replied, “Oh yes, we had a wonderful visit”! 

My heart skipped a beat for a moment…but then I immediately knew what had happened!

I quickly asked…”I’m sorry…did you run into Dan Morrison instead of Don Maxwell”?

The sweet lady looked completely bewildered, so I quickly assured her that this happens all of the time!  There have been several individuals who have made that same error, mistaking one of us for the other person!

This occasional mistaken identity that has occurred in our lives the last several years reminded me of a story that our pastor recently shared during one of our church services.

Pastor Wayne shared that he had recently pulled up behind a car at a stoplight.  This particular car had a bumper sticker with the name of a church, which would lead you to believe this was the church that individual driving the car attended.

As our pastor looked at the bumper sticker, he began to ask himself…

”Should we get bumper stickers for our congregation”?

“Wouldn’t that be kind of cool”?

“Would that encourage others to visit our church”?

As he waited for the light to change, he had almost talked himself into believing this would be a great idea for our congregation!

As he continued to ponder this idea, the individual driving the car in front of him proceeded to get out of his car and dump his ashtray on the street next to his car.

As the light changed, the individual got back in his car drove off…completely ignoring the mess he had just left on the street!

It was at that moment that our Pastor thought that maybe it wasn’t such a good idea for us to have bumper stickers on our cars!

God’s word states… Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them…Matthew 7:20.

Would this be the example or type of behavior that we would want others to see from members of our congregation?

Or on a personal note…is this the fruit that we would want to be recognized for?

And though there are many of us who do not smoke or would never dump our ash trays in the middle of the street…what other behaviors are we modeling throughout the week?

Do we always use words/language that is pleasing to the Lord?

Do we treat our spouses, children, family, friends, co-workers…others that we meet with throughout the week with courtesy, kindness, and love?

Do we take time to reach out and serve others in a time of need throughout the week or do we shy away from serving…hiding behind our full calendars and busy schedules… missing an opportunity to be the tangible touch of Jesus?

Would others recognize us as Christians by our fruit…not only on Sunday mornings, but throughout the week as well?

As I thought about this, I’m completely ok with individuals confusing me with the other Tammy, and I’m sure my husband feels the same way when others confuse him with Dan.

However, I am not ok if others do not recognize Christ in me!  I want others to see the fruits of the spirit in me. 

God’s word says…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…Galatians 5:22-23.

I have to consistently ask myself…what characteristics do others see when they look at me?  Do they see love…joy…peace…or the other fruits of the spirit!

Oh, how I pray they do!  I want to be recognized as having those characteristics!

I’m sure in the days ahead I will receive e-mail meant for Tammy Morrison…or someone will call my husband Dan instead of Don, and that is ok! 

But more importantly, I hope I will be recognized as a person of integrity who desires to be a light for Jesus!

Dear Heavenly Father…I know others may mistake me for someone else at times, but how I pray that I will always be recognized as a child of God!  Help each of us to shine for you in our daily walk and may others recognize the fruits of your spirit in us!