“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
1 John 4:16b NIV
Do you remember the story of Saint Valentine? There were actually a few saints named Valentine or Valentinus.
One was known to have defied the emperor who thought single men made better soldiers. He forbid these young men to be wed. But Saint Valentinus would secretly perform weddings.
Another Saint Valentine was known to help persecuted Christians escape Roman oppression and imprisonment. Both these saints were known to have been arrested, refused to renounce Christ, and martyred, according to Christian tradition.
Through the life, cross, and resurrection of Jesus, we are called saints of God. As saints, we live to reflect our covenant romance with Jesus. Let’s embody and emulate courage, faithfulness and sacrificial love, just like the saints of old — and Saint Jesus!
On this Valentine’s Day weekend, may we continue to choose to “live in love and live in God.” May our love be courageous when culture pushes back. May our faith be faithful when it costs us something. May our compassion move us to protect the weak and serve the vulnerable in a broken world.
And I pray that you, yes YOU, no matter your “relationship status,” know that YOU ARE SO GREATLY LOVED! Yes by Jesus — and yes by the Jesus in me, my Beckie, and one another in our NHM ‘Ohana!
