Death Sentence

It's 62 A.D., Paul is sitting in a jail cell for following Jesus.  The Roman Empire is bearing down on Christians for following the Renegade rather than pledging allegiance to Caesar.  Paul has been stoned (by rocks of course), shipwrecked twice (one time a snake bit him when he came ashore), beaten multiple times, as well as, suffered many other attacks.  His faith does not waiver despite these indignities.  He was sold on Jesus.  When someone who has died shows up in front of you to confront your actions, that is a huge game changer.  Paul was sold on Jesus, even though the punishment was to die.  This group of people who had been taught by Paul and who considered Paul to be a father of the faith were concerned.  They had nothing, yet they gave all they had and then gave more.  Paul states in chapter 4 of Philippians that he had received their gift and realized the sacrifice necessary to send a gift of that magnitude.  As Jay DePoy, my pastor, stated "Every act of love increases your ability to love".  These Philippians loved Paul.  My point though, comes at the very end of this letter from Paul to the Philippians in a very peculiar couple of sentences.   

Philippians 4:21-23 "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.  All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."

Those brothers in verse 21 that Paul is speaking of are fellow inmates who were either imprisoned for their faith, or were converted by Paul upon his arrival.  They say "thank you".  The next verse is great.  "Especially those of Caesar's household."  They send a big "Hey".  Do you realize the implications of that?  These are people who are part of the empirical domain of Rome and they greet the Christians in Philippi.  The very people who were supposed to be persecuting and squashing this Jesus movement were now a part of it.  I imagine Nero's bed linens being changed and them being prayed over.  Or a feast for Nero's court, being blessed before it goes to be consumed.  I don't think they left tracts though, no tracts.  If theses folks were caught, I am sure that an example would be made of them as well as their families.  They didn't care.  They loved Jesus.

Is your faith strong enough to stand in the context of a death sentence?