“God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” (NRSV 1 John:16b)
God’s love is the total package. The Bible says that God is love. However, God’s love includes God’s wrath, holiness, grace, forgiveness, wisdom, and sovereignty (read rule or kingdom). Psychologists know that love is the strongest force for positive change. It has power beyond fear and anger. The universe may seem to conspire to be against us, however, God’s love is available to those who chose to accept its power in their lives.
One such person was a Christian named Valentinus in the Third Century under Claudius II’s rule in Rome. Valentinus was dedicated to practicing the love of Christ and he was in jail for refusing to worship the emperor. Always open to the new opportunities God might give him, he befriended the young jailer’s daughter, Julia, who was blind from birth
The jailer sensed that his prisioner was an intelligent and kind person, so he asked Valentinus to teach his daughter since she could not attend school. And Julia learned arithmetic and heard stories about Roman history and also about God. One day she asked Valentinus to pray for her to be able to see. He reminded her that God only does what is best for us and then he prayed for her healing.
As the story goes, a bright light appeared in the dank jail cell and she was healed and could now see everything Valentinus had told her about. Valentinus praised God for that answer to prayer. He continued to teach her until the eve of his death. He wrote her a last note urging her to always stay close to God. He signed it “From Your Valentine”.
His death sentence was carried out the next day Feb 14, 270. He was buried in Rome and Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today the tree reminds us all of the power of abiding sacrificial love and friendship.
Wishing you a measure of God’s abiding love this Valentine’s Day!
For Your Consideration:
We are encouraged to share the love of God with others.
- With Valentinus’ example, who can you help to see the love of God today? Pray about how to do that.
- What actions can you take to “stay close to God” as Valentinus advised Julia to do?
- If someone asked you to pray for them, do it immediately, out loud, and in their presence!
Beautiful story. Happy Valentines Day!
“…God only does what is best for us and then he prayed for her healing.”
…(WHEN) someone…(ASKS) you to pray for them, do it immediately, out loud, and in their presence!
This post is a blessing. God -interestingly- provides assurance, encouragement and affirmation that being ‘in service’ such as captioned IS what to do “…for a time such as this…”