Happy Valentine’s Day, also known as St. Valentine’s Day. This holiday is a liturgical holy day of the Church to honor Valentinus, a priest in Rome who was martyred in 496 AD.
Very little is factually know about St. Valentine, but it is told that he was was imprisoned under the Roman Empire for his support of persecuted Christians and for performing weddings of soldiers forbidden to marry. During his imprisonment the legend is told how he healed the blind daughter of his jailer named Asterius. When the time came for him to be executed, the story is told how he wrote a letter to his jailer’s daughter signed, “Your Valentine.” Today, the skull of St. Valentine is on display in Rome with of all things a crown of flowers.
The modern expression of Valentine’s Day is synonymous with L-O-V-E. When it comes to love there is no greater example and expression of love than God. The sacrificial and selfless love is shown through the death of Jesus on the cross. We could never begin to love to the extent to which he has first loved us. Everything good that we have in this world comes from him. The rest that is not so good is on us.
I once heard the Bible described as God’s love letter to us. There is so much in there that tells us about his love. Here are just a few of the many verses to ponder.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12–13 (ESV)
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (ESV)
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
How about you? What are some of the Bible verses that are special to you which express the immense love of God? Take a moment and share with us in the comments below.
Finally, here is a prayer for all of us to grasp his incredible love:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14–19 (ESV)
Mary Artache says
Close to my heart is Ephesians 5:1-2:
Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love.
Ashu says
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