There was this idea trending a few weeks ago that men think about the Roman Empire on a daily basis. Many found this to be an amazing thing. Many wondered, aloud, “What could these men possibly be thinking about related to the Roman Empire? Why would people think about the Roman Empire today?”

When this idea was first presented to me, I thought about how often I think about the Roman Empire. In a general sense, I think about the Roman Empire often enough. I was a history teacher. I even taught about Ancient Rome. I’m familiar (of course) with all the main characters, and, as such, Roman times are among the topics I read about from time to time. I probably read a book relating to Roman history at least once a year. In addition. my favorite Shakespeare play is Julius Caesar and I love the movie Ben Hur (and one of these days I’ll read that novel). In my house I have been known to quote both the play and the movie – probably more often than I realize.

If I think about what I think about, I guess I do think about the Roman Empire. But, even with all of that, I don’t think I think about the Roman Empire or, more generally, Roman times every day – or maybe even weekly.

But then I thought about a topic I think about much more often…

And that’s when I realized that I do think about the Roman Empire every single day. You see, there is an individual from Roman times that I think about daily.

When I realized that if we consider people, or more specifically a person ,who lived in Roman times, it became clear to me that I think about Roman Empire multiple times throughout every day.

You see, a little more than two thousand years ago, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken. A young woman, with child, and her husband, traveled to the city of David, Bethlehem, so that they might be counted and while they were there, a child was born unto them…

That child grew up and lived in the days of the Roman Empire. It was under the rule of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate that he suffered and died on the cross and then rose again.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about and pray to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And if thinking about Jesus means thinking about the Roman Empire, then I do think about the Roman Empire every single day.

I think about Jesus’ life. I think about Jesus’ death. I think about his resurrection. I think about the disciples. I think about the rules Jesus asks us to live by. And each day, I pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples in Luke 11:

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
 Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

As I thought about this more deeply, I even realized that one of my favorite Biblical passages comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans specifically:

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance; and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us…” (Romans 5:3)

So, in the end, it’s not so crazy after all.

Yes, since Jesus is part of my daily life, I think about the Roman Empire every single day.

I’m glad I do.