Valentine’s Day is one of those Holidays that people either love or hate.  It is interesting that the history associated with St. Valentine and romantic love is very ambiguous and many scholars disagree.  It is known that St. Valentine was a priest of some sort in Rome who ministered to persecuted Christians.  According to legend at his own martyrdom he wrote a romantic letter to the daughter of his accuser and signed it from your Valentine.  There is little other evidence of St. Valentine having anything to do with love or romance at all until Chaucer writes about him and then the legend began to grow. Regardless of how you feel about Valentine’s Day perhaps today can be a reminder that we are all called to love others.  Let’s look together at what that love looks like in I Corinthians 13.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

Much like the legend of St. Valentine this passage was not meant to be about romantic love.  Although it is the most commonly used passage at weddings all over it is meant to be an encouragement to all of us about what our love for others should look like and a reminder of how God’s love for us is.  Love is a powerful force.  When we love the way God calls us to love others it draws people to Him.  This kind of love should certainly be celebrated.  Today make it a point to love others with this type of love.  Whether it is your Valentine or a stranger on the street share the love of Christ!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave