Week: Joy
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
God of rescue and restoration, thank You for Your beautiful mission to save the whole world. Here we are, Lord. Fill us with Your Spirit, and send us so that we can join in with Your mission.
Saint Valentine is best known for encouraging love! Let’s REFLECT on what the Bible says true love is really like.
Read by Vera Lynn
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NCV)
Saint Valentine lived a very long time ago, and there are many legends about who he was. The most well-known says that his real name was Valentinus, and he was a priest from Italy who lived around 200 years after Jesus was born.
Valentinus believed in God’s love for everyone, and he helped people who were in love to get married, even though the Roman Emperor at the time had forbidden it. Eventually Valentinus was arrested, but even in prison he continued to tell people about Jesus.
One legend says that the daughter of the man who was in charge of his prison was blind, but when Valentinus prayed for her, she was healed! Valentinus left the girl a note simply signed ‘Your Valentine’, which is where the tradition of sending Valentine cards comes from. Valentinus died on 14th February, and so this is the day that he is remembered.
So, Valentine’s Day isn’t just a celebration of lovey-dovey romance, but it is a day to remember a man who lived his whole life loving God and sharing God’s incredible love with others. God’s love is the source of all the love in the world!
Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is: Saint Valentine was a hero of love. If we were going to be remembered as a hero of something, what would we like it to be?
Father God, help us to share your love with everyone around, just like Valentinus did.
Sadly, lots of people don’t feel that they are loved or special in some way.
Loving God, we ASK You to draw near to anyone who feels like this. May something happen today to show them that You love them very, very much.
And now let’s say YES to God’s love together.
Father God, we say YES to receiving Your amazing love. And may You love pour out from us to others, just like it did with Valentinus.
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Vera Lynn lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
