HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED THE TV PROGRAM, “UNDERCOVER BOSS?” If not, let me fill you in. It’s all about senior executives of a company working undercover in their own firm to investigate how the company really works and identify how it can be improved, as well as rewarding the hard working staff.

In one episode, a CEO of a nationally recognized firm, took a position as a janitor in one of his company’s subsidiaries. He was videotaped cleaning toilets as part of his duties.As I watched, I couldn’t help but think of a Christmas passage that I have preached on in the past: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich (2Corinthians 8:9). Of course the analogy is weak at several points, but, like this CEO, the Lord of glory was willing to humble himself and take upon himself the form of a man. He left the beauty and joy of heaven to live for a while on this pain-infested planet, to fulfill a mission of redemption.

Back to Undercover Boss. At the end of their week of undercover, the executives return to their true identity and request the employees they worked with individually to corporate headquarters. The bosses reveal their identity, and reward hard-working employees through campaign, promotion, or financial rewards, while other employees are given training or better working conditions.
Can you see where I’m going? Jesus rewards those who by faith trust in His atoning work for them on the cross—not because they deserve it or worked hard. It’s because of His great love for us. And the rewards are out of this world—heaven, eternal life, peace, joy, and an abiding sense of His presence.

He was rich. He became poor---disrobed himself of His majesty—born in a stable, into a poor home and poor community. All the days of His earthly life He was poor. He couldn’t even afford a tomb to be buried in. And He did it all to make us spiritually rich! He knew how destitute we are without Him.

There lived in a little village a doctor noted for his kindness and love. After his death they found written across many of his accounts the notation: “Forgiven—too poor to pay.” The widow objected and sued the people for payment. But the judge asked, “Is this your husband’s signature?” “Yes,” she replied. “Then,” said the judge, “there isn’t a court in the land who can order a collection of the accounts where the doctor has written ‘Forgiven.’” Jesus offers to forgive and receipt our debt in full if we will but admit that we are too poor to pay. He wants to give us the greatest GIFT of all time, if we, like He, shall humble ourselves and receive His offer of love.