Valentine's Day is just round the corner. I present to you the greatest Valentine of all times!
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Christ, God's Anointed One!
History of Valentine’s Day
The name “Valentine” was derived from valens meaning worthy, strong, powerful).
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is a holiday observed on February 14 honoring one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.
Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. The Valentines honored on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep. Interamnensis m. Romae). Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome, and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.
Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).
Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian. He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).
Source: Wikipedia
Love of Parents
A Parent’s Love
Father and Son
If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! [Matthew 7:11]
If you should feel rejected or unloved, know this: Even if the world whole forsakes you, the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you [Psalms 27:10, Deuteronomy 31:6].
If you should feel rejected or unloved, know this: Even if the world whole forsakes you, the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you [Psalms 27:10, Deuteronomy 31:6].
God Loves You
In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. [I John 4:10]
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life [John 3:16].
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([a]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life [John 3:16].
We Are The Reason
Jesus Christ, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not [c]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped] or retained, but stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! [Philippians 2:6-8]
Above All
Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has [f]freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Philippians 2:9-11].
God Loves You...No Matter What
A Father and His Two Sons [Luke 15:11-32]
There was a certain man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a ]mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want.
So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better].
Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger!
I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants.
So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently].
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]!
But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet.
And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry.
But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant.
And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well.
But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him,
But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might]revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends;
But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf!
And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!
So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better].
Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger!
I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants.
So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently].
And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]!
But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet.
And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry.
But his older son was in the field; and as he returned and came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
And having called one of the servant [boys] to him, he began to ask what this meant.
And he said to him, Your brother has come, and your father has killed that [wheat-]fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and well.
But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him,
But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might]revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends;
But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf!
And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!
Jesus Loves You
He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him. Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. [Isaiah 53:3-5].
For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness] (2 Corinthians 5:21).
For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness] (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Tell of His Love
The Great Commission
Tell the world about God's love as demonstrated by the Death of His only Beloved Son on the Cross; Jesus Christ. He Himself sent Jesus Christ to die on the Cross just for you! While Jesus hung on the Cross, God's heart bled! But He bore the excruciating pain of watching His only Beloved Son die that horrible Death because that is the only way with which to save you and I from the clutches of the evil one who held us ransom. Jesus Christ paid the ransom price to set us all free. He willingly laid down is life to liberate us [John 10:17].
There is no greater love than this!
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. [John 15:13]
There is no greater love than this!
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. [John 15:13]
Remember Him
When you give flowers to your loved ones this coming Valentine's Day, remember the Lord Jesus Christ who loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God, a sweet fragrance. [Ephesians 5:2].
Bring to your remembrance the woman, an especially wicked woman ho anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. Those who know they are forgiven much, love much [Luke 7:37-50].
When you saviour the delicious chocolates melting in your mouth with the roasted nuts, remember the Lord Jesus Christ was toasted on the Cross. His Body was crushed and melted like jelly, exposing His bones [Psalms 22:17]. For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him [Isaiah 53:2].
For whom did He do all that?
Bring to your remembrance the woman, an especially wicked woman ho anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. Those who know they are forgiven much, love much [Luke 7:37-50].
When you saviour the delicious chocolates melting in your mouth with the roasted nuts, remember the Lord Jesus Christ was toasted on the Cross. His Body was crushed and melted like jelly, exposing His bones [Psalms 22:17]. For [the Servant of God] grew up before Him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground; He has no form or comeliness [royal, kingly pomp], that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him [Isaiah 53:2].
For whom did He do all that?
You!
The Greatest Martyr (Witness) of Love
God promised to give an Offspring to strike the head of the serpent in Genesis 3:15.
That Offspring is to be without spot or blemish. He is to be THE Anointed One or Messiah (in Hebrew) or Christ (in Greek), Anointed to [Luke 4:18-19]:
1. Preach the good news to the poor;
2. Announce release to the captives;
3. Recover sight to the blind;
4. Deliver the oppressed, that is, those who are oppressed (condemned), bruised, crushed or broken down by calamity;
5. Proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord, that is, the day (time or season) when salvation and the free favours of God profusely abound.
Elohim our God, Jehovah our Lord, Abba our Father sent His only Beloved Son in Whom His soul delights to be that Offspring; our Messiah. And God gave Him the Name Jesus [Latin form of the Greek Iesous or Yeshua in Hebrew], meaning 'God saves', “salvation”, “Saviour”.
It was His immense love for us that His only Beloved Son was sent in the guise of sin to die the death of the cross.
It was His immense love for us that His only Beloved Son was sent in the guise of sin to die the death of the cross.
Since Valentine’s Day is a reminder of the act of love, wouldn’t you agree with me that Jesus of Nazareth is the greatest Valentine , the greatest martyr or witness of love of all times?
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends [John 15:13].
Recommended Resources
Reduce Me To Love
Loving and being loved is what makes life worth living. It gives our lives purpose and meaning. It’s time to learn to truly accept God's unconditional love and obey His command to reach out in love to others.
In this powerful book, Joyce provides biblical insights and draws from her personal experiences to illustrate how God changed her life and to introduce you to a life filled with God’s love.
This love will change your life by showing you how to …
- Know what “reduce me to love” means
- Love in a way that blesses you and motivates you to love others
- Accept God’s unconditional love for you
- Love as Jesus did
- Discover the peace, joy and strength that come through true love
Love Revolution
Revolution. The word itself sparks hope, ignites passion and inspires loyalty. A love revolution isn’t only a great idea but a necessity if we’re going to see some of the tragic injustices in the world today turned around, including the heaviest tragedy of all—humanity’s broken heart.
This book outlines a new way of living that can change your life and world by providing…
- Inspiring stories of Love Revolutionaries—people like you who changed their world by loving others
- Practical application exercises and simple acts of God’s love for everyday life
- Life-changing times of prayer
- Fascinating quotations and insights from history
- Startling statistics
See The Father's Love For You
Can what you do stop your heavenly Father from loving you? Will He still bless you after you have failed? In this moving two-DVD album, Joseph Prince delves into the parable of the prodigal son, and opens up fresh revelations about your Abba's deep and unending love for you. Besides the unconditional love and acceptance, the father in the parable also gave his son precious gifts — the robe, ring and sandals. Find out the spiritual significance of these items and see how they depict the blessings your Father has for you today. Listen and let your heavenly Father's love wash over you and embrace you into wholeness!
Living in Favor, Abundance, and Joy
To live in God's favor is to live a life filled with hope, abundance and joy. God has a new beginning in store for you Whatever difficulties you've faced, God uses your challenges to stretch you and enlarge your vision to move beyond disappointments and experience his blessings. In this audio series Joel Osteen shares valuable keys that will help you live in faith, stand strong and overcome anything that comes against you.
Capturing the unique excitement of Lakewood Church's weekly services and broadcasts, "Living in Favor, Abundance and Joy" collects material from three of the most popular volumes of live recordings offered on the Lakewood website. You'll hear Joel Osteen's distinct and effective mix of spiritual perspectives on real-world challenges, including:
- Letting go of the past
- Taking the limits off of God
- Being grateful for the gift of today
- Having a relaxed and easy-going attitude
- Controlling your moods
- Holding on to your joy
Don't settle for the status quo. God says that you are going to have the most peace, the most fulfillment. You may not have seen it yet, but if you make room, you will not lack in any area.
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