Santos Valentino popularly known as St. Valentine was a
roman bishop who lived in the 3rd century. He was captured,
tortured, imprisoned and beheaded for preaching the gospel. The first time he
was imprisoned, he encountered a prison warder whom his daughter was blind and
epileptic. The warder said he would only believe that, he is a true man of God
if he could heal his sick daughter. They brought the sick girl to him; and by
the grace of God she was delivered. Santos
went about preaching the gospel and secretly engaging Roman soldiers the Christian
way. He was reported to the then emperor (Claudius) for it was believed that marriage reduced the strength of the men. He was arraigned before
Emperor Claudius. The emperor liked him from first sight, but when he preached
the gospel to the emperor, he was ordered to be beheaded for going contrary to
their law and customs. This is just a brief story about the man that is
celebrated every 14th February. Santos died for three reasons:
- Because he was secretly engaging Roman soldiers.
- Sharing the gospel with the roman emperor.
- Refusal to deny his faith.
The whole idea of Valentine has gone wrong. 14th
February has been marked for valentine’s remembrance; called lovers day. People
engage in all forms of morality, all in the name of valentine. If we look
closely to what Bishop Santos Valentino lived for, we would understand that the
whole idea has gone wrong. We spend 14th February expressing love to
people we so much care about, or giving gifts to people that will pay us back.
So many things are exchanged this day which I wouldn’t want to go into. 1 John 4:7-21; tells us about the God kind of love. The right way to celebrate this
day is by showing love to someone that can’t pay you back. Preaching the word
of God to people we care about.
Emulate Santos from this day.
Preach the word of God regardless of the person; never deny Christ for any
reason, and show love not only today but always to people that can’t pay you
back. Love is sharing, caring and giving. Happy valentine to all my readers, I
trust you will affect someone’s life today through sharing, caring and giving;
and also sharing the word of God.
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