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Feb 2026
Greetings in the matchless name of Jesus!
When you think of Valentine’s Day, what do you think of? Love? Cupid? Valentine’s Day cards? Gifts of chocolates and flowers? Or perhaps you don’t celebrate the day, and/or you feel sad and alone because you are not being celebrated as anyone’s “Valentine” on February 14, this year.
What you may not know is that Valentine’s Day didn’t begin with celebrating romance, but as a celebration of an even greater love. Jesus said that the greatest love is a love in which one lays down his life for his friends (John 15:13). With that said, the true origin of Valentine’s Day began twelve centuries ago, as a Christian feast commemorating a Christian martyr, Bishop/Saint Valentine.
Interestingly, there were several early Christian martyrs named Valentine. But the one whom the church assigned for celebration on February 14 was a Christian priest in Rome who lived around A.D. 250–270, during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. St. Valentine performed Christian weddings in secret because the emperor had banned marriages for young men (believing that unmarried soldiers fought better). He also helped Believers who were imprisoned or suffering under Roman rule, which brought him into direct conflict with Roman authorities. It is said that St. Valentine even healed the blind daughter of his jailer, Asterius. Ultimately, St. Valentine was executed for preaching the Gospel, and tradition holds that before his death, Valentine wrote a farewell letter to Asterius’ daughter, signing it: “From your Valentine.”
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There is no condemnation to either celebrate Valentine’s Day or choose not to, for this or any other holiday, because we live under the law of liberty. Still, it is important to remember that Valentine’s Day began as a Christian holiday. Its true meaning has nothing to do with pagan traditions or modern-day commercialism. And even if you enjoy the romantic traditions—the cards, sweets, and gifts—that’s fine! There is nothing inherently wrong with that. In fact, the Song of Solomon beautifully portrays the romantic love, wooing, and wedding of a handsome, dark King and a beautiful, dark-skinned Shulamite Shepherdess—and that’s in the Bible!
The bottom line is that whatever we do, whether in word or deed, we should do it in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, the Father, through Him. (Colossians 3:17).
Are you facing sadness, loneliness, abandonment, or painful memories during this Valentine’s season? If so, I want you to know that Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are weary, promising rest for our souls! As beautiful and divine as a God ordained marriage is between a Christian man and woman, the greatest love of all is the love that Jesus has for you—He shed His blood and died just for YOU!
In the Service of the King,
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Pastor Fred Price, Jr.
PS: Perhaps in honor of St. Valentine’s Day—a day that originally commemorated a Christian martyr—we can remember and pray for all the persecuted Christians in North Korea, the Middle East, Africa, India, Pakistan, and around the world.
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The Truth About
Valentine’s Day
by Dr. Fred Price
MP3
1152 |
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How to Believe God
For a Mate
by Dr. Fred Price
E-Book
1153
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Standing By God’s Man
by Dr. Betty R. Price
Book
1154 |
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Ever Increasing Faith Ministries • PO BOX 90000 • LOS ANGELES, CA 90009 • www.faithdome.org
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