One of the stories explaining the origin of Valentine’s Day tells of a Roman citizen who had a home church. A Roman soldier, against the law, wanted Valentine to marry him to his girlfriend. The soldiers arrested the congregation but allowed Valentine to go free because of his social status. The Christians were to face the beasts in the arena. Valentine sent messages on red heart shaped pieces of paper to encourage his friends and offered to die in their place in the arena, fighting the beasts.
Paul in Romans 9:3 laments over those who are Jews like him but who have not chosen to believe in Jesus. “3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.” Paul has reasoned that faith, not adherence to the Law or circumcision is what brings people into a saving relationship with God. So what is the purpose of the Old Testament and the Jewish heritage? Has Christianity superseded Judaism? God has worked marvelously and historically with the Jewish people. Divine adoption places all believers in one family regardless of their ethnic origins. One tribe is not better than another. Paul would be willing to die if more Jews would believe.
Perhaps you carry in your heart today the burden of an unsaved child or spouse or relative or neighbor or friend. We may not be able to go to the arena for them as Valentine did or be willing to be cursed so they would be saved as Paul says but we can pray. Take the name of the person you are praying for and make an acrostic of their name and take each letter and think of gifts you might give to show God’s love. For example Joe: J is for joy at seeing him, O is for an orange you could give for no reason, and E could be a note of encouragement. Blessings as you pray for that person on your heart.
On the Way to Wonder 