“THIS WEEK AMERICA WILL CELEBRATE AN ANCIENT HOLIDAY CALLED VALENTINE’S DAY. IT SEEMS TO BE A FUN DAY WHERE HEARTS ARE DRAWN TO LOVE. YET WHAT LOVE DOES AMERICA CELEBRATE?”

 I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about Valentine’s Day...

Greetings listening friends, and welcome to the World the Word and You! Broadcast.  I’m your host and speaker, Dennis Finnan , thanking you for joining us today.  Now the World the Word & You! comes to you today, by the kind support of…

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… Well now, it’s time to get down to business and the purpose of this broadcast, and that is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, by making these messages practical and personal for all our listeners. But before we attempt to do this again this week, let’s pause and listen to this delightful moment of music…

…This week, the Western world celebrates a special day called ‘Valentine’s Day.’ Tradition has it that February 14^th, is the day when birds begin mating again and all hearts are drawn toward love. You know, there are many celebrations our society observes which we have little to no understanding of why we do celebrate them, and how such observances came about. Let me tell you about the history of Valentine’s Day. 

Now there are many stories and legends that surround this day. One popular idea is that it dates back to ancient Grecian and Roman times, when paganism honored their gods and goddesses. For instance, Roman mythology ascribes to a goddess and her son, the supernatural power to create lust and passion between the sexes. The goddess “Venus” and her son “Cupid,” ancient legends say, moved at this time of the year to create such lust and passion in human beings. A Roman fertility festival surfaced known as “LUPERCALIA.” It was a time when pagan priests, half dressed and almost naked, would run through the streets in two bands. Along the way, were woman who if struck by the goatskin strips they carried, would have their infertility taken away. These strips bore the name “februa,” a word connected with februare, meaning “to purify,” hence the day was called Februratus, and the month February and Valentine’s Day came about.

Then there are other legends about the origins of this day. But before I share them with you, and a special word of advice from the Word of God about them, let’s pause once again and listen to another moment of music. Then I’ll return with today’s message – “WHO WAS SAINT VALENTINE?”

…Today we’re talking about VALENTINE’S DAY, this week’s upcoming secular holiday observed in the Western world. Many folks enjoy this time for it seems to bring our hearts to the idea of love, care and passion for one another. We heard a moment ago that one legend says this day was derived from a pagan celebration of ancient Grecian and Roman worship of the goddess Venus and her son, Cupid, the chubby, often naked imp carrying a bow and arrows, that if shot into people’s hearts, caused them to lust after and passionately desire one of the opposite sex. Festivals of unbridled lust and passion in Roman days were popular in our ancient past, and the pagan masses enjoyed celebrating this and what accompanied it. This time of the year, for them, brought gluttonous feasting, sex orgies and wild pursuits of the opposite sex for one purpose -- sexual gratification.

However, there are other legends that say Valentine’s Day is a remembrance of an actual historical man who once lived long ago. He was a Roman priest named Valentine, who married couples secretly against the edict of Emperor Claudius II, and having been caught was executed. The Roman Catholic Church in the third century, elevated him to sainthood and his day of recognition and commemoration is February 14,^th, hence, it has been called, Saint Valentine’s Day.

Well, you take your pick which legend you like, because no on can really say what is the official origin of this day. I would guess it is a conglomeration of all the legends which formed the traditions America celebrates as the official “LOVE DAY” of the year. However, in examining this tradition, one can see a real distortion of what is “love.” Why just look at the greeting cards offered on Valentine’s Day in the stores, and the tawdry sales pitches that accompany it. One valentine card I saw in a store read, “BE MY LOVE SLAVE.” Also as one walks through the malls of America , decent men must have to blush or turn away as stores boldly display in windows, sensual intimate apparel to be given to one’s lover on this day. I believe our world today has lost the meaning of love, true love, and especially as the Bible reveals it to be.

Now admittedly, in the Church family of Jesus Christ, there are those today who “hate” Valentine’s Day! They say because its origin is a pagan rite of lust-filled passion that defies God and His Word, it should be forbidden for any Christian to observe it. They would have all Christians to hide on this day and completely ignore it. Still others promote it, but in a milder more appropriate fashion than the secular world.

What’s a Christian to do? Should we ignore every tradition and holiday that is passed down to us, and condemn them? Well, as most of you know I am not one who falls into the category of denying everything because ghosts of the past hide somewhere behind them. Rather, I believe God has made us Christians “adult sons” in the faith, and He expects us to live our lives by making choices that please Him and honor His Word.

Although Valentine’s Day was probably born out of paganism and the lust-filled passions supposedly to be excited by the god and goddesses represented by Venus and Cupid --  having a day to remember each other with thoughts of love, care and concern certainly is needed in our world today. I for one do not believe that we are chained by the past, and must follow the path others take of rejecting everything that doesn’t suit one’s fancy or interpretations of the Word of God. You see, the Bible says explicitly,

Titus 1:15 (NIV)  To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

That beginning phrase is important, for it reads: “to the pure all things are pure.” This means that what you “do” with the things that touch your life, is the real test of who and what you are. In other words, your life is what you make of it! Yes, you can join the pagan world today and make this secular holiday a lust-filled day, where you seek to use another human being for your own pleasures and satisfaction. Indeed, millions of people do this daily. Courtship, Marriage, true love and dedication to one another within the confines of a monogamous marriage relationship, seems almost lost on this present generation. Today, thanks to Hollywood ’s lies and corrupt teachings imbedded in our media, our youngest generation thinks that when a boy or man dates, he is to expect within days or hours of the first date, for his partner to surrender her body to his lust filled desires. Date rape is not uncommon if the girl refuses. Yes, keeping one’s self pure till the marriage bed, is almost unheard of to our young people of our modern world. Why even within Christian circles, it’s rare to find a virgin boy or girl in High School or college these days.  How the language of love has changed. However friend, God’s Word hasn’t concerning it.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on what the Bible says about love, true love and what we should strive to instill in hearts when this celebration day arrives on Monday of this week.

Well, first let’s ask the most important question: “What is love?” I think the Bible answers for us in the well known Scripture written by the apostle Paul who wrote,

1 Cor 13:4-7 (NIV)  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Here God tells us what authentic love really is. First of all, it is not sexual desire, nor a heart passion to be met, or a need to be physically or emotionally gratified by the opposite sex. Authentic love in our humanity, according to God has four special features:

I. AUTHENTIC LOVE BEGINS WITH A DEEP love FOR God – Yes, the Bible says we cannot know love, true love, a godly love, unless we first turn over our affections and desires for fellowship, companionship, and satisfaction over to the God who created us. Without this, any and all love will be artificial or self-appreciating at best. In fact, the Word of God tells us we were all made for this very purpose. Hear then God’s command concerning this to you and me.

Mat 22:37 (NIV)  "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

Now when we accomplish this, we begin to have the true and wholesome ability to love others. If we neglect or refuse to love God, the ability to exercise real love toward anyone is lost. This is why our society, that is increasingly secularized, has lost its ability for true love. Secondly,

II. Authentic love requires us to first love ourselves - Now don’t get me wrong here. I’m talking only about having a humble heart to know that you have worth in that you are a created being, made in the image of the high and holy God of the Bible. So many people today, have little to no self-worth. Because of evolutionary teaching, they have been taught they are just an animal that has evolved out of nothing, going nowhere and worthless at best. Surely then, such a being cannot truly love another, for their only desire is to be loved, and to use others to bring every form of gratification in the lonely and worthless lives they live. This friend, is why so many marriages fail today. The godless individual enters with only one desire to “get” not to give, and when the getting dries up, it’s time to leave and look for another. The sad thing is that is exactly what the other prospective mate wants too. They marry and divorce again and again, never finding true biblical love. What is true love? Well let’s find it described for us in the Word of God. For the third feature of a true love is…

III. Authentic love is a giving love, not a taking love -   Yes, true love “gives” everything to the one loved, and in truth, expects nothing in return for it. This is seen fulfilled when mates in marriage unreservedly love one another in the same way. Each one doing everything they can for the other to satisfy them, encourage them, be a friend to them, and sacrificing anything necessary for this giving love relationship. Such love can never fail, and such love never stops with one’s mate only for...

IV. Authentic love reaches beyond the one loved to others - It blossoms forth into the lives of any children produced through such a pure love relationship in marriage even to relatives, friends, workmates and all the people around us. Of course such love is different from the intimate love between a husband and wife.

Now think about this. Have you ever found unloving people, who simply can’t express love to you? It’s because they have never learned to love God’s way. Oh they have emotions, and highs in relationships, but almost always it was when the other party simply satisfied them. Rarely, was it a giving relationship. This is why many are so negative, critical and unappreciative of people and things around them.

Now let me make some suggestions for a healthy love relationship, especially in marriage. All too often many marriages fail and fall on the rocks of love lost, only because they have not obeyed the Bible’s admonition found in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, which tells us God’s admonition of love. Furthermore, judge your own relationships and see if true love exists between you, your mate and family. In the love relationship of marriage or the courtship to bring it about, make sure you and your spouse are committed to knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You see no one can reach the fullest state of love or experience it unless, they have returned to the Creator of Life and surrendered their lives to Him through the revelation of His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible says,

Psa 127:1 (NASB) “…Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;”

God says one cannot build a real lasting relationship of love, commitment and a home and family unless the foundation is built on Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. Have you surrendered your life and heart to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? Have both of you, if in a courtship or marriage relationship done this? Unless you have, you will NEVER know real authentic lasting love. But you must not stop there. All Christians must continue to grow in their faith and knowledge of the Holy One. Couples who do not continue to grow spiritually will in time grow apart, and the evil one, Satan himself, will drive a wedge between you and your spouse. Do you realize this is why so many Christian homes are breaking up today? The problem is sin and spiritual neglect of such growth. True love must be nourished and continually exercised to stay alive and well.

Secondly, we must strive to avoid our sin nature from taking control of our love relationship in the form of “controlling behavior.” All of us have the potential to allow this sinful condition to arise in our hearts. How is it evidenced? Why it appears when become possessive, manipulative, and bossy, as if we “own” the other person and it is our right to demand their love, and servitude. Sound familiar? No adult wants to be controlled by another. Such actions reveal sin has taken control of the life of the one who exhibits such controlling behavior. Often in the church it breaks out in people becoming “control freaks,” who demand to lead and direct others lives. This is not love, but love gone awry.

Thirdly, we must all realize that living in a sin fallen world where perfection is not present in any of us or our relationships, there will NEVER be the perfect and ideal love relationship. People today who romanticize the ideal marriage and mate will be disappointed and disillusioned. The “happy-ever-after” marriage simply doesn’t exist. Yet, with God at the helm of life, two sinners joined in marriage and committed to love each other, can make their love work together for their good and the glory of God. Have you made that commitment to your mate, to love him or her regardless of the times they fail you? Have you learned that true love forgives again and again?

Let’s listen now to God’s own description of true love, for he is the founder and originator of it…

1 Cor 13:4-7 (NASB)  Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Listen to those words of love’s description – love is PATIENT…KIND…NOT JEALOUS…NOT ARROGANT…NOT SELF SEEKING…BEARS ALL THINGS… BELIEVES ALL THINGS…HOPES ALL THINGS… and ENDURES ALL THINGS.

In other words, real, true, authentic love, not passion, or romanticism, is a total giving relationship!  And guess what! God Himself has given us the greatest example in the Person of Jesus Christ. Listen to the Word of God about the love God has for us…

John 3:16-17 (NIV)  "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Rom 5:8 (NIV)  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

You see, the greatest love story ever written is the Bible! It tells us how God so loves us, even though we have failed to love Him. It tells us how our original love relationship failed due to man’s sin in the Garden of Eden. Yet our ensuing walk away from our Creator God, has never caused God to walk away from us. Yes my friend, God is there waiting for you to come back to Him. He is forgiving, and He is as Paul writes, PATIENT…KIND…NOT JEALOUS…NOT ARROGANT…NOT SELF SEEKING…BEARS ALL THINGS… BELIEVES ALL THINGS…HOPES ALL THINGS… and ENDURES ALL THINGS and all this for you and me!

That’s true love for the Bible says,

1 John 4:8-10 (NLT)  But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Yes, there it is -- God “is” love! This means God’s very character and being, is the basis of all love, and is what He has for all those whom He created, especially for you and me. So my friend as Valentine’s Day comes around, let’s reject the silly secularism and paganism it was founded upon, and seek to emulate what real authentic love is all about. It begins with loving God through Jesus Christ, and then allowing His love to flow through us to all others beginning with your mate and partner in marriage.

Now admittedly, many marriage and love relationships that have failed have been sinfully ravaged and abused. If so, remember God’s love also FORGIVES, and all we must do to receive it is put the past behind us, confessing its wrong and failure on our part and asking God through Jesus Christ to save us, and give us a new beginning! The Good News is, He will! But then, the opportunity for most is to offer the same new beginning to the one’s we love. If your love relationship has failed, can you admit your failure in it? If so can you ask your mate, or loved one for forgiveness with the promise with God’s help, to make it right from now on! Remember, God is also the God who restores and can heal all broken hearts. So my friend, let’s evaluate our love today as it pertains to all others.

Is it a relationship that is pure, holy and undefiled? Is it a relationship that is centered in upholding and supporting the one we love? Is it a relationship whereby we respect our mate’s individuality and right to exercise their own personality and life? If not, make it so today, by first being sure that you have crowned Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of your heart and life, and the center of your home. If all has failed, begin again this week, by turning back to God, His Church, His Word, and His heart and life for you. Then Valentine’s Day can be celebrated not as the paganism of the past, but as God intended for us to show His love to others. Remember,

Titus 1:15 (NASB) To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.

Make your life pure in and through Jesus Christ, then all your love will be true love for God and for everyone around you…

…Friend let me say this. There is nothing wrong with love that is rooted in feelings or romantic love. There is nothing wrong with family love that desires to satisfy those around us. But the greatest love in the Bible is what is called “Agape” love. It is a self-sacrificing love that is the most beautiful of all and is reserved only for the Christian. This love is higher, deeper, wider and more powerful than any force in this world. It’s a constructive love, holy love, value filled love that lasts for eternity. God is willing to give it to you, because it is His own love. But He only gives it to those who surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and trust Him alone for forgiveness of sin and eternal life to come. It’s available free to all who seek Him. Take it and use it to glorify God through Jesus Christ.