Valentine's Day... A day to show love and affection by giving cards, candy, flowers, or even balloons, having an expensive dinner, or seeing a movie. However you celebrate the day, have you ever thought about how Valentine's Day was started?
Much of the meaning or origin of St. Valentine's Day is unknown.
The day was first picked as the day to remember or commemorate a man named Valentine, or Valentinus, later proclaimed a Saint.
There are, however, multiple St. Valentine's associated with February 14th, all of whom being martyred, or buried after being martyred, on February 14th.
But the most famous one being Valentine of Rome.
While much of his story is unknown, there are a lot of legends surrounding this character of history. And here are the tales of St. Valentine of Rome, which have started our modern day traditions.
Valentine lived during the days of the Roman Empire, around 250 AD. He was a leader in the early Christian church, believed to be a bishop.
In his days Claudius II was Emperor of Rome, and according to legend, he proclaimed marriage to be illegal, believing that Roman soldiers with families were more wimpy than those without. However, while no such proclamation exists in archived Roman laws, it is believed that he told soldiers they could take multiple wives for the rewards of victory in battle. Either way, he was butchering God's law of Marriage.
St. Valentine continued to perform traditional biblical marriages, while helping other persecuted Christians as well.
One day he was caught and thrown into prison.
While he was there, he met Julia, the blind daughter of Asterius, the jailer.
Valentine ministered to her during her daily visits to the jail, and told her of the gospel. He prayed for her each day, and one day, God answered his prayers, and opened the eyes of Julia.
With such a miracle, Asterius's whole household believed on the Lord Jesus, and was baptized.
The Emperor was not happy with Valentine, and brought him forward to be placed on trial.
He told Valentine that he would release him if he denounced his faith in Jesus. But Valentine refused, instead trying to convert Emperor Claudius II to Christianity. The Emperor became furious and commanded Valentine to be beheaded.
Before his execution, the legend says Valentine wrote a love letter to Julia, ending it with "your Valentine".
Valentine is believed to have been executed on February 14th.
While about 90% of the story may only be legend, it is an amazing story to think about. Many such events did take place in history, to many early Christians suffering persecution. Even in the the Bible, we have stories of miracles and steadfast believers of Jesus, who remained faithful unto death.
My reason for sharing this story today is to ask you not to forget those who gave up everything to obey the Word of God, and proclaim the Good News of Jesus.
Just think about it, people could have died so that we could still have biblical marriage, and our culture today is trying again to throw it away.
When you tell your spouse or date you love them, tell them so with all your heart, knowing that they, and their affection is a gift from God.
And for those of us who don't have a romantic relationship, remember that your family and friends are a gift as well. Thank God for them, and share the love of Jesus, showing you love Him too.
God is Love.
He showed love to us by dying for us while we were still lost in our sin.
There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friend, and Jesus calls us friend.
Now abide in these three, faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love.
1 John 4:8, 10, 16. John 15:12-15. 1 Corinthians 13:13. Romans 5:8.
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