Fulfilled

Today is Valentine's Day 2017. The theory is that we celebrate Valentine's Day because of Saint Valentine, a Roman Priest during the reign of Emperor Claudias Gothicus. Claudias had passed an edict that prohibited the marrying of young people because, in his opinion, unmarried soldiers fought better.

Valentine performed marriage ceremonies for the Christian couples and even aided them in their persecution from the Romans. For his dedication to Christians and to Christian marriage, in 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three part execution of beating, stoning, and decapitation. He paid to fulfill the law of love.

Today's word is Romans 13:8, ESV, which reads, "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

We all have debts; we seem to have more than most. We all owe for things: houses, cars, educations, stuff, and we are all working towards eliminating that debt. It is important to meet our obligations and to fulfill those debts, it is imperative. Yet, there is nothing more freeing than paying something off and no longer owing someone. Further, though, there is one debt that we can never retire - LOVE.

We owe it to one another to love each other. No, we don't have to love the actions of others, we don't have to accept the attitudes and sin of others, but, we are to love others. Why? Because, even while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us - He loved us enough to pay our debt. Don't we owe each other love? Loving one another is the only way our debt(s) will be fulfilled.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T