February 11, 2022 - Good Morning! It's Friday, February 11.
Okay gentlemen - we're just a couple of days away from the BIG DAY! No, I'm not talking about The Super Bowl. I'm talking about Valentine's Day! So get busy. Those flowers and chocolates and cards aren't going to just buy themselves.
Have you ever wondered who Saint Valentine was? Well, he was a priest who lived in Italy way back in the third century. His work was primarily ministering to persecuted Christians and he died a martyr's death near Rome in 269 - on February 14. Two hundred years later he was granted sainthood and February 14 was designated as a church holy day, a feast day.
This special day, originally, seems to have had nothing at all to do with the subject of romantic love. Not until the 15th century did that tradition begin. The English poet, Chaucer, using "poetic license", concocted a history connecting St. Valentine with what was then called "courtly" love. And so, ever since, with the encouragement of candy makers and Hallmark, February 14 has been a day set aside to express our love - through gifts of candy and flowers and greeting cards. Last year 22 billion dollars was spent on Valentine's Day! I wonder what the original St. Valentine would think about all that.
Here's a thought from God's Word about love. No charge!
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3
Meet you back here tomorrow as we look at the Love Chapter, I Corinthians 13.
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
