To all who love to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day
The Story of the day.
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From reading various sources I find that Saint Valentine of Terni, from whom we named this special day was martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Aurelian. Little is known of his life except that he was appointed bishop of Interamna (now Terni) in the year 197AD and died shortly thereafter.   He was apparently imprisoned, tortured and beheaded on the Via Flaminia in Rome for his Christian faith on the order of a Roman prefect named Placido Furio. Interestingly enough his name means calm in Spanish. His last name might give us a clue as to his real nature….Furio…Furious.  The  decapitation of Valentine supposedly occurred on February 14th but that is not certain.
In Brazil, “El dia dos Namorados†Valentine’s Day in English is celebrated on June 12 with exchanging gifts such as chocolates, cards and usually a flower bouquet.
In Colombia, the Day of Love and Friendship is celebrated the third Friday and Saturday in September, due to trade issues. In Colombia, the “El Amigo Secreto†(“secret friend”) tradition is very popular, where friends give anonymous gifts to each other.
And in Guatemala, “El DÃa del Cariñoâ€, “the day of affection,” is much like Valentine’s Day in the U.S., only more largely celebrated.  Guatemalans exchange flowers, chocolates and cards, but the day is also used to show affection to friends and colleagues.
What does the Bible say about God’s love?
- 1.   Love is a sign of our communion with God
A. I John 4:7-10 Jesus made the Sacrifice for our sin.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God showed his love for us by sending His only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we love God but that He first loved us and sent his Son, that he offered in sacrifice, so that our sins are forgiven.
B. Perfect Love is manifested when we love our neighbor
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we too should love one another. 12 For God has never been seen by anyone, but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is realized in us. 13 The proof that we live in God and that he lives in us is in his giving us his Spirit. 14 And we ourselves have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son to save the world. 15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God dwells in God and God in him.
C. Get Close to God and he’ll manifest His love through you to others.
16 So we have come to know and believe that God loves us. God is love, and he that dwells in love dwells in God and God in him. 17 Thus true love is proven to exist in us; in that on the Day of Judgment we may have confidence, because we manifest love in this world as did Jesus Christ.
D. Are we afraid to love more?
18 Where there is love there is no fear. Rather, perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment. So if someone is afraid, they have not come to love perfectly.
E. The Importance of love
19 We love because He first loved us. 20 If anyone says’ I love God, and at the same time hates his brother is a liar. For if one does not love his brother whom he has seen he cannot love God whom he doesn’t see. 21 Jesus Christ has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
- 2.   Love is a responsibility of the Christian and his life of faith.
 A. The whole Old Testament law is summed up in one word, “love” (see Leviticus 19:17-18, Matthew 19:19).
B. Â Love sums up the Christian responsibility in the New Testament (Romans 13:9).
- 3.    Characteristics of Love are: I Corinthians 13:4-7Love is patient and kind, not envious or boastful, not arrogant, 5 does not do anything improper, not selfish or angry, not hateful, 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but clings to the joy of the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
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- 4.    Conclusion. A. What kind of love will we manifest this coming week? Will it be the imperfect type of love that people give without God’s help or will it be the selfless kind of love that only God can give?
B. Let’s pray that each family, each couple, each parents and each child here now will have an opportunity this week to manifest the wonderful love of God to their “neighbor†whom they will meet along their daily path.
My Prayer: Lord, help me to love like you without feeling that those around me are in my way or keeping me from my daily routines or from doing the things that I like to do. Lord, help me to see others through your eyes rather than my own. I pray these things in Jesus name! Amen
