Compassionate Love

GOOD MORNING,
 
THROUGHOUT OUR CULTURE WE SEE PEOPLE WEARING THEIR BADGES, THEIR LABELS  OR LOGOS.  PEOPLE TRYING TO IDENTITY THEMSELVES THROUGH SOME SYMBOL.  THEIR BUMPER STICKERS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES, TEE SHIRTS, CAPS, AND EVEN THEIR TATTOOS SPEAK FOR THEM, AS TO WHO THEY ARE, EVEN THEIR FAITH, OR THEIR FAVORITE, SCHOOL OR PRO TEAM, ETC.
 
WHAT IS THE TRUE BADGE OF THE CHRISTIAN?  WHAT IDENTIFIES US?  DID JESUS SIMPLY SAY:  "THEY WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE......"
 
THERE IS A GRAPHIC STORY SURROUNDING MEN IN COMMUNIST ROMANIA'S JILAVA PRISON.  SEVERAL WERE PLACED IN A CELL, NAKED, WITHOUT BEDS, WITHOUT BLANKETS AND WITHOUT A BARREL TO SERVE AS A LAVATORY.,  THEY WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO LEAVE THEIR CELL TO FULFILL THEIR BODILY NEEDS, IMAGINE PASSING THE NIGHT, COMPLETELY NAKED, IN SUCH A STINKING CELL.
 
ONE OF THE PRISONERS WAS SICK WITH PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.  LATE ONE NIGHT, HE COULD NOT BEAR TO STAND ON HIS FEET ANY LONGER.  HE FELL AND WOULD HAVE FROZEN TO DEATH ON THE COLD CONCRETE, HAD NOT THE CHRISTIAN, MIRCEA VULCANESCU, STRETCHED HIMSELF OUT ON THE CONCRETE SO THE SICK MAN COULD SEAT HIMSELF ON HIS BODY AND HAVE THE PROTECTION OF HIS BODY'S WARMTH.
 
VULCANESCU REMAINED STRETCHED OUT NAKED ON THE CONCRETE WHILE THE SICK MAN SLEPT FOR A FEW HOURS.  HE TOO FELL ASLEEP,.  WHEN THEY AWOKE, VULCANESCU WAS ALMOST FROZEN.  THE OTHER PRISONERS HAD SPENT THE ENTIRE NIGHT MOVING AROUND WITHOUT SITTING ON THE CONCRETE,.  VULCANESCU CONTRACTED PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS AND DIED, BUT HE DEMONSTRATED THE SAVIOR'S BRAND OF LOVE.
 
MAY THE LORD BLESS AND KEEP YOU TODAY AS YOU DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE.  AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE LOVED!!!!

Henry