Love Love Love

In light of this weekend, and the quickly approaching holiday of Love, I think it's fitting for me to share what I just learned of how Valentines Day came about. I'm not a huge fan of this holiday- for one, it is not fun for singles, and secondly, I have seemed to be single EVERY Valentine's Day of my life.  Just to throw this out there..I was expecting to research this and be bored out of my mind..BUT there turned to be a great lesson for me :)

Valentines Day was originally a day to honor several men named "Valentine" who were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.  Here is the story of one man named Valentine:

St Valentine was persecuted as a Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed. Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.

WOW. Now THAT'S an expression of love! When I first read that I was stunned. How easy it is for us to turn anything that gives glory to God into something that gives glory to ourselves. Among the Valentines Day celebrations of passing love letters, sweet chocolates, and xoxo's I seemed to have totally missed this story. Oh, but there is an even greater story...which moved these men to give of their lives to a greater picture- THE greater story. The one I heard as a little girl that as saved this wretched heart of mine and made me new- the only story that has the power to do- is of my Savior.  "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:7-8  Christ didn't die for good people. Christ died for sinners- ones He knew would reject Him. Christ died to ultimately bring glory to His Father, in which ugly hearts would be able to cry out and surrender to the One who can cover them and make them holy.  Man...why do I search for love elsewhere? How can I gloom on Valentine's Day because I don't have a guy to share it with? Because I do, and He is the ultimate expression of love, and the only One who can satisfy this heart. 

Guys and girls- single and in a relationship: There is NO OTHER who can fill our needs as people other than the Creator who made us to praise Him.  If something isn't doing what it's created for- it will not find peace. May the sacrifice made LONG AGO move you to love Jesus.

I sometimes am afraid of what my future holds. Relationships were once something I idolized, because the thought of being single forever terrified me. Although I still desire to be in a marriage someday, I understand and can accept that if it takes a whole life of being single to cling to Christ and grow in love for Him, than it's worth it to me. That love is my ultimate purpose. So on this day of 'Love' enjoy time with your special someone- but my prayer for you is that you question where that desire of love comes from- perhaps from the one who IS love.

God bless, love always in Christ!

Jor