A LOT of RED!

No matter where you go this time of year, you’ll see a sea of red! Stores are filled with gifts and symbols for Valentine’s Day. Hearts definitely dominate the scene. To add to the almost 20 million dollars spent for Valentine’s Day, you can purchase one of the 190 million cards, some of the 250 million red roses, and one of the 1.7 billion boxes of candy. It’s a day when we focus on expressing our love. It’s a lot of red, it’s costly, but so worth it.

It’s all about love and romance, but the origin of St. Valentines Day is anything but romantic! However, it is one of the most beautiful love stories.

At the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Claudius the second, there lived a man, some say a bishop, known as Valentinus. He was a worshipper of Christ at a time when Christians were being persecuted and killed for their faith. Valentinus brought many to the Christian faith. When Claudius forbid marriage to make stronger, more focused soldiers, Valentinus married them in secret. It is said that Valentinus cut hearts out of parchment and gave them to the men to remind them of their marriage vows and their love for God. He loved many and was loved by many. He was captured, thrown in prison, tortured and told if he would deny Christ they would set him free. He refused! In 270AD Valentinus was beaten, stoned,and beheaded.

Not at all romantic! A lot of red! But, true love. He stated “ There comes a time when we must lay down our lives for what we believe”. He gave his life for the One he loved.

A great love story. A costly one.

Another man gave His life for the ones He loved. Another man came to bring many to the Christian faith. Another man was God. Another man was captured, tortured, beaten, and nailed to a cross. A spear was thrust into His side, His heart bled. A lot of red. Not romantic but the very greatest love story of all time. His life for ours. Our sin given to Him, His righteousness given to us. Costly!

Red Hearts everywhere hopefully remind us of expressions of love.

This is what true love sounds like…Be Mine. I will love you forever, I will never leave you or forsake you, I have loved you with an everlasting love…

John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Abide in love”.

John 13:34 “A new command I give you that you love one another just as I have loved you”

Mark 12:30-31 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, and all your mind and all your strength. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself”.

As the red ran down the cross, Jesus cried out, “Father forgive them”

As the red ran down the cross, Jesus cried out, “IT IS FINISHED” Paid in full! A lot of red. Costly!

The loveliest love story ever!

In our Bibles, the words of Christ are written in red. Because of His love story, they are also written on our hearts.

Priceless!

May your heart overflow with love this Valentine’s Day and every day of the year! ❤️

Image by kjpargeter on Freepik