Valentine's has become a big part of the world's culture today. However a lot of people are totally oblivious of how the celebration came to stay. While some argue that it's a pagan ritual(festival of Lupercalia which included fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery) which became Christianized in recent times to mark valentine. Others see it as a day dedicated to spread unconditional love and gifting loved ones with presents, some others use it as a day to consumate exotic desires for the opposite sex hereby giving sex in exchange for love and gifts,

it is quite imperative to have a little background on how valentine's day came to be and how it relates to Christian.

Brief History!

The story about the antecedent of Valentine is abit vague. There are many versions to the story.

One of the version says
Saint Valentine served in third-century Rome. Emperor Claudius decided that single men made better soldiers. Therefore, Claudius banned soldiers from being married. But Valentine continued to perform the weddings of young soldiers who were in love, and Claudius had Valentine imprisoned. While imprisoned, Valentine reportedly fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. (Some say he healed the jailer's foster daughter of blindness) and at some point Valentine sent her a card and signed it,

"Love, your Valentine."

Another version is that Valentine defied Claudius by helping Christians escape the torture of the Romans. 

There are indeed a lot of stories out there but none of this links him as a romantic figure. He like most other matyrs were executed fighting for their faith, and manifesting the love of Jesus; Which is Agape, purely unconditional . it's has nothing to do with romance, fornication and adultery!

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Jesus demonstrated the highest degree of Love by dying on the cross for us. And He encourages us to love people unconditionally also as a prove of our love for Him.
The real valentine is a spreader of the love of Christ, if you are celebrating valentine it should be the love that make you fight for the right of the oppressed too. If you really feel love in your heart reach out to those who are not born again, they have no hope for eternity! Reachout to the poor and vulnerable. Spread the Love of Jesus Christ, send out gifts without expecting anything in return. Anything different from this is self deception.

Let the Agape love for people grow our heart daily. Love covers multitude of sin! Love the people around you, love your spouse, love your family, love your country!


#Rhemadaily by
Yhuki Peters (@yhuki_omo_oba)

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