Some Tender Thoughts And Memories In Advance For Valentine’s Day
James Hurley’s Intercessory Prayer for today includes some thoughtful observations specifically about next week’s immensely popular holiday and more generally about how Jesus Christ provided the greatest example ever of genuine love:
“With the Christmas season and the New Year’s events in our rearview mirror, we find ourselves less than a week out from the day that strikes fear and anxiety in the hearts of many men and dubious anticipation in the hearts of many women, not to mention all the K-6 school kids who sheepishly wonder if the boy or the girl across the classroom will acknowledge ‘the day’ with a card or a mumbled ‘be my Valentine.’
Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash
“Those classroom encounters may no longer be an issue, but I’m old enough to remember general rules that everyone who participated in a classroom card exchange was encouraged to have a card for every other student . . . Yes, the day that created the successful corporate dreams for Hallmark is less than a week away, which got me to thinking about a Valentine’s Day card I doubt most of us have ever actually held, and perhaps not even thought about . . . .
“Long before Hallmark . . . long before Godiva chocolates . . . and long before 1-800-Flowers . . . the oldest record of a valentine being sent, according to History.com, was a poem written by a French (surprise!) medieval duke named Charles to his wife in 1415.
“Webster’s includes several definitions for valentine, including ‘a sweetheart chosen or complimented on Valentine’s Day’ and ‘something (such as a movie or piece of writing) expressing uncritical praise or affection, a tribute/’ Remember that second definition . . .
“And long before the duke Charles penned his poem to his wife in 1415, there was one who spoke with expressions of what was, and is, clearly expressions of affection: ‘When Jesus spoke again to the people , he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ – John 8:12
“In his final hours with his original 12 disciples, ‘when he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you? he asked them. You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17
“Can we truly fathom the depth of our Lord’s affection for his disciples, having spent three years of his ministry with them on a daily basis, to then humble himself to wash their feet only hours before his trial and crucifixion? Do we understand what Jesus did for them, and by his action, what he demonstrated for each of us in our daily walk? I don’t know about your conclusion, but if the washing of someone’s feet is anything other than an exhibition of affection . . . .
“One more example to consider, when Jesus was speaking to the 11 remaining disciples hours before his crucifixion:
‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
‘You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:9-17
“How’s that for an expression of affection?
“So as we lift our intercessory prayers this week for this nation we call home, for our communities and neighborhoods, and for our friends, families and loved ones . . . . may we pause and remember the very first valentine Jesus and our loving Father gave all of us some 2,000 years ago . . . .
“And when Jesus told his disciples that they should ‘do as I have done for you,’ that message is as true and relevant to our walk today as it was when first spoken. Take time this week to soak in the affection our Lord and Savior shared with his disciples . . . and shared and continues to share with each of us.”
“To God be All Glory!”
For more information about James Hurley’s newsletter, contact him at: james.hurley@hawtexdevelopment.com