SHEPHERD TO
SHEEP
THE REAL VALENTINE’S DAY
. . . the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
HERE IS THE HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY AS WE
KNOW IT:
Valentine’s Day started in the time of the Roman
Empire. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II, Rome was involved in many bloody
and unpopular military campaigns. Claudius the Cruel, as he was known at the
time, was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military
leagues. He believed that the reason was that Roman men did not want to leave
their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and
engagements in Rome.
This was when a Christian priest named Valentine
came to defend love in the empire. Valentine began to secretly marry couples
despite the emperor’s orders. When Emperor Claudius was informed of these
ceremonies Valentine was sent to prison where he remained until his death on
February 14 in the year 270.
It wasn't until a few hundred years later when
Valentine's Day began to develop as we know it. At the time Christianity was
beginning to take control of Europe. As
part of this effort the Church sought to do away with pagan holidays.
Valentine's Day came to replace a mid‑February fertility festival called
Lupercalia. In honor of his sacrifice for love Valentine was made a saint and
Lupercalia renamed in his honor.
BUT HERE’S A GREATER STORY OF LOVE THAT GOES
BACK EVEN FARTHER . . . the real Valentine’s Day!
"For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. (John 3:16)
NOW WE CAN LOVE GOD BASED UPON WHAT JESUS DID
FOR US ON THE CROSS:
We love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
AND NOW WE CAN TRULY LOVE ONE ANOTHER:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another; as I have loved you . . . (John 13:34)
"Greater love has no one than this, than to
lay down one's life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of
God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. {8} He who does not
love does not know God, for God is love.
(1 John 4:7‑8)
Brethren . . . let us love one another!
Louie
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