Holidays

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The up and coming Holiday is Valentines Day. Most people do not realize that this is a Christian Holiday with very Christian roots because of all the commercialism surrounding it now days.



Valentine was an actual man who lived in the third century. He was a priest in the area of Rome. Claudius II was the Roman Emperor at the time and was having trouble raising an army. He believed that it was because the young men did not want to go to war since they had wives and families. Therefore, he made it illegal to for young men to marry. Valentine knew this was wrong and continued to marry young couples and help them hide. He was arrested and thrown into prison where he met a Roman guard. While waiting for his trial, he led this guard to Christ. The guard became very fond of Valentine and brought his young daughter to the prison to talk with Valentine and keep him company. Valentine lost his trial and was sentenced to death on February 14, 270 A. D. They also would not allow the young girl to see Valentine. The night before his death Valentine wrote a letter to the young girl and he signed it “Love from your Valentine”.



This is the idea behind sending Valentine cards on this day. With all of the commercialism now days, we have really lost the true meaning of Valentines Day. It is not about romantic love but love for your fellow man. The Greeks in their language have three words for love. Eros is a romantic love between a husband and wife. Agape love is steadfast love or un-ending love, which only God can show to us. The last one is Philo love, which is brotherly love or love for your fellow man. This is where we get the word Philadelphia. The point I am trying to make is that the first Valentine sent was about Valentine trying to comfort the young girl at the time of his death, not romance. I think this year we need to celebrate Valentines Day by showing concern for our fellowman. I suggest we go on a visitation to share the gospel, or to a shut in or the nursing home. Go show God’s Agape love by using your Philo love.



All of this of course reminds me of some thing Jesus said. Matt 25:31-40 reads:



31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

This tells us by us showing Philo (brotherly love) we are showing them God’s Agape love.

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