1 John 4:8-9 ‘ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him’
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Valentine’s Day originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. While there are different historical accounts of his story, a common hagiography describes him as a priest of Rome in the town of Umbria, in central Italy.
For his faith in Christ, he was placed under house arrest by Judge Asterius. One day while speaking of the power of Jesus, the judge put Valentine to the test and brought his blind daughter. He told Valentine that he would do whatever he asked if he succeeded in restoring the girl’s sight. Valentine prayed to God, laid his hands on her eyes and her vision was restored.
As a result of this miracle, the judge, his family, and forty-four members of his household were converted to Christianity. A part of the story states that the young priest Valentine later developed an affectionate relationship with Judge Asterius’ daughter.
Valentine was arrested again for continuing to evangelize and minister to the faithful amidst the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. He was sent to the prefect of Rome, emperor Claudius Gothicus who had him executed on February 14, 269 A.D. Before his execution, it is said he wrote a note to Judge Asterius’s daughter signed “from your Valentine”. This note is said to have inspired today’s romantic missives.
While the martyrdom of Saint Valentine was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day, things later got muddled up in the fifth century by the combining of St. Valentine’s Day with the pagan festival of Lupercalia.
Today little is said about the Christian faith of Saint Valentine, while so much is heard about the celebration of romantic love.
Yet as beautiful as human celebration of love may seem, it pales in comparison to the greatest love of all. To know what true love looks like—we need to look to the Cross where God proved His love. God so loved the world that He made the ultimate sacrifice for our sakes.(1 John 4:8-9).
The love of God is the truest and purest form of love. It is the foundation, upon which any other love can rest.
The truth is that no matter how genuine and sincere anyone may be, their love will always be flawed because of the sinful human nature. Therefore if you are depending on a man or woman to love you perfectly, you may end up with heartaches and disappointments.
Only God can truly and perfectly meet the deep longings of our heart. While human love may sometimes fail you, the love of God will never fail you! You may be rejected, and betrayed, and abandoned by people, but God will always love you with an everlasting love. He will never give up on you.
In the darkest night, He will be right there with you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Truly God is love. He does not try to love you, He cannot help but love you, because that’s who He is.
Therefore today, our celebration of love should be in the fact that God so loved us, that He gave us His only son, to cleanse our hearts from sin and give us the ability to express true love.
PRAYER: Father I thank You for the price You paid to give me a new life and a new heart in Christ. Today, I receive from You the divine ability to truly love others unconditionally even as You have loved me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE :
Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222
Shalom!
GOODHEART EKWUEME
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