THE REAL VALENTINE

Dearly Beloved,

THE REAL VALENTINE

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 John 3:16 NIV).

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13 NIV).

Valentine’s Day is an annual celebration held on February 14 to commemorate love and affection between intimate companions. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting gifts like flowers, and other gifts, sending greeting cards and love text messages (SMS) and even love phone calls. There are many traditions about the origin and widespread acceptance of this celebration. From these traditions, there were some people that were coincidentally named Valentine between third and fourth centuries AD that were killed because of their love-related actions.

As this celebration is observed every year, how many of the people that believe in it and celebrate it are ready to lay down their lives for their so-called loved ones? Many people are preoccupied with the material or financial gifts they will give or get during the celebration. Many have even turned the celebration to a time of satisfying their sexual and lustful desires. The men bearing the name Valentine in the olden days that made us to be celebrating the Valentine’s Day annually were known for their sacrificial love. They had a love that cost them even their lives for their loved ones.

There is Somebody who sacrificially loves. He is the supreme Valentine of all time. He is the Lord Jesus Christ who because of His love for mankind "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV).

Anyone that would want to celebrate the Valentine’s Day must be ready to do anything, even death, for his/her loved one. The celebration must be with a sacrificial love. That is the real Valentine. Happy Valentine’s Day!

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).