“Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.”
I’m sure this is not news for most of us but today is Valentine’s Day. If you were not aware you are probably about to be in trouble. There are different accounts of where the holiday originated but almost all are traced to one of two martyrs named Saint Valentine. In all the origin stories he was a good priest who, while imprisoned, did acts of love and kindness. One such act has him healing the blind eyes of his jailer. Others have him performing marriages of solders who were forbidden to be married. All his acts were known to be, in some form, loving and kind. A great theme for Valentine’s Day. As Solomon challenges us in this verse we see Valentine as a person who followed God by walking upright and with great reverence for (fear of) God. We are called to do the same. There is a frivolous and trendy element to the way we look at Valentine’s Day these days. The confectionery industry has basically stolen the day as has the greeting card folks. It trivializes what has a truly significant beginning. In the way Saint Nicholas morphed into Santa Clause, the martyred Saint Valentine has pretty much disappeared from this holiday as well. Today let the example of the days namesake challenge you to live a sacrificial life of love for others as you serve the ultimate expression of true love. #BeTheEdge
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 NIV
