“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life John 3:16 (KJV)”

Love, what a great word, packed with emotions. The depth of meaning is truly gained from Greek definitions of Eros as sensual love, phileo as brotherly love and agape as unconditional love The verse above states, “God so loved the world that he gave his only son” Why? That anyone who believes in him should not perish. God gave life to all those who would have died and placed their death upon his son. What kind of love is this? This love is the Lord’s Obedience to Vicarious Exchange. Vicarious simply means acting in place of or as a substitute for another. In this world, people will only act as substitutes if that position will bring them profit. The bible declares, No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful Roman 5:7-8.

This is agape love. How do we reciprocate this love? Christ declares, If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them John 14:23. This love is derived from the Father and it is beyond human desires. It is predicated on obeying the commandments which allows Jesus and the Father access to live in you. As they operate through you they enable you to become obedient to vicarious exchanges (L.O.V.E) Jesus asked that we remain in His love. John 15:3. How can you remain in Jesus’ love? Simply by obeying his commandments. This may appear so but Christ in a conversation with Simon Peter, asked him about his love for him three times: “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”John 2115-17) Even though Peter’s response was, you know I love you, the Lord instruct him further, saying, “Feed my lambs and Feed my sheep twice.

This implies that giving love requires an action. This action will enable the “sheep (children of God)” first to call God Father, second be able to approach God’s throne with boldness and finally to work towards attaining the image of God. Now examine your act of love and compare it to that demanded by Christ. Are you obedient to the vicarious exchanges required of you with the children of God? Can people call you “father” or do they call you by another name? Can they approach you with boldness or do they approach with fear and trepidation? Can you accept people in your “image’ or do you always place them in an inferior position to you? In other words can people experience the love of Christ through your lifestyle? Let us resolve to pursue the love demanded of us by Christ in simplicity and in obedience, for love is the greatest in comparison to faith and hope. Resolve to keep loving. Amen

Dr Rex