“Hands-On” Love: When Jesus Wears a Disguise
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40
It’s a sobering thought: one day, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats—not by beliefs we’ve claimed or songs we’ve sung, but by what we did for those in need.
Jesus paints the picture clearly in Matthew 25. He commends the righteous not for grand sermons or doctrinal precision but for feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and the imprisoned. These aren’t abstract gestures. They’re deeply personal. And they come with a stunning twist: when we do these things for others, we’re doing them for Jesus Himself.
That changes everything.
Suddenly, that young man holding a gas can by the roadside isn’t just a stranger. He might be Christ in disguise. That overlooked woman in your small group who just needs to be heard? She might carry the quiet presence of Jesus. The friend grieving silently, the person struggling with addiction, the one who’s lost everything—they might be holy ground in disguise.
Jesus doesn’t need us to give Him a handout. He invites us to give Him our hands.
Luke 14 doubles down on this. Jesus challenges us to give without expecting anything in return. “Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… and you will be blessed.” This isn’t about polished charity. It’s about presence. It’s about walking toward the people others walk past—and doing it with joy, not obligation.
But let’s be honest: this is uncomfortable.
Our culture tells us that money is enough. Write a check. Give to a cause. Move on.
But Jesus asks for more. He wants us to show up. These verbs matter: you fed, you gave, you visited, you invited. This is hands-on love. Relational. Messy. Real.
You can’t love someone from a distance. You can’t bandage wounds with your wallet. This kind of love costs time, comfort, and maybe even reputation. But it’s how Jesus loves—and how He wants His followers to live.
After all, God didn’t love us from a distance. He came close. He entered our world, touched lepers, embraced the broken, and sat with sinners. He didn’t just see our need—He met it with His presence.
So ask yourself: Where do you see Jesus in disguise today?
And when you see Him, will you stop?
Will you respond?
Will you get your hands dirty?
Because real love isn’t hands-off. It’s hands-on.
Hi! I’m Jo!
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