Happy Valentine's Day, Jesus!!!

A few days ago we celebrated Valentine's Day. I was fortunate enough to spend it with the one I love. We did the usual V-day date and such... we did some not-so-usual things that just describe "us" fitting perfectly together.

I just wonder if any out there know what Valentine's Day really means or where it came from.

The Romans called it the festival the Lupercalia. The custom of exchanging valentines and all the other traditions in honor of Lupercus - the deified hero-hunter of Rome - was also linked anciently with the pagan practice of teenagers "going out". It usually led to fornication. Today, the custom of teenagers dating only one person on a regular basis is thought very modern... But is it? Or is it merely a rebirth of an old custom handed down from the Roman festival of the Lupercalia, celebrated in the month of February, when names of young women were put into a box and drawn out by men as chance directed?

The pagan Romans celebrated February 14 as an idolatrous and sensuous festival in honor of Lupercus, meaning the "hunter of wolves". Emperor Claudius II of Rome, also known as Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time recruiting men as soldiers. He believed that the men did not want to leave their sweethearts and cancelled all engagements and marriages throughout Rome. St. Valentine, a priest of Rome at the time, secretly married couples. He was eventually caught, arrested and condemned. He was beaten to death and beheaded on February 14th, around the year 270.

Lupercalia was a feast to a heathen God. Pastors and priests of the early Christian church did away with the pagan custom by replacing the names of the girls with the names of saints. They chose St. Valentine’s Day as the day of celebration for the new feast.

Interesting. Today we use this pagan tradition as a day to spend with the one we love and have hearts, flowers, candy, etc. Don't get me wrong... I love my valentine and enjoyed spending the holiday with her. I just wonder if anyone thought about a greater love...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jhn 3:16). You see, God loves us so much that he died for us. No heart-shaped holiday will ever compare to that. He is our first love and will always be. No matter what we do or where we go God will always love us. That's no excuse to go out and live it up... however, God's love for you and I is forever.

I wonder why... Me? A sinner, a common man, at times a fool, etc. God tells us My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. 9- For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Is 55:8-9).

So why does God love me...? I have no idea. We may not be able to explain it, understand it, or comprehend it, but it's true. Nothing compares to the love of Jesus. Nothing will ever take the place of His love for you. There is no greater love than Jesus laying down His life for you... His friend (Jhn 15:13) God calls you friend (James 2:23). God calls you His children (Rom 8:16). And nothing will ever separate you from the love of Jesus. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39- nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8:38-39).

I know it's late, but Happy Valentine's Day to my first love! Jesus. The greatest love I've ever known.

J.H.