Undercover Boss, one of the hit reality shows in the U.S., features the various CEOs and owners of big companies coming in disguise as a regular employee of their own company to do menial work. Every time these owners get their hands dirty, their view of their company, policies and workers change, and even more, the employees are shocked every time the identity of their menial co – worker is revealed.

The bible tells us of a God who came and got His hands dirty to be with us. And of all the profiles that he could have taken on, he rejected to come as a king, as a rich person or as a powerful political leader and came as a vulnerable human, a humble servant, a poor carpenter from the outskirts of famous Jerusalem. God cares for the oppressed, the poor and the victims of injustice that he became like one of them.

The early followers of Jesus took this into heart and it defined how they do church. In the early years of the church, the Christian is not just characterized by their strong doctrine, amazing miracles or even its radical evangelism and discipleship but even more, by their extreme generosity and their unexplainable compassion to everyone.

If this is how much God cares for these people, shouldn’t this be one of our priorities as well? Let the love of Jesus Christ for us and his compassionate heart for the marginalized people move us into action and meet their needs.

Matthew 25:37-40
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?
“Mercy is not an option or even an addition to being a Christian. Instead, a life poured out in deeds of mercy is the inevitable sign of a life which has experienced the grace of God” – Tim Keller

“The ministry of mercy, then, is the best advertising a church can have. It convinces a community that this church provides people with actions for their problems, not only talk. It shows the community that this church is compassionate.”  – Tim Keller