Thy Rod & Thy Staff
Nondenominational Church
A place to serve, not sit.
What We Do
Church Purpose
Our purpose at our Bible base church is to get people to be like Christ and turn from that which is contrary to Him. We would like very much to lead others to make Christ the foundation of their lives. We would like to show Jesus as a faithful friend, a loyal companion, as someone who will stand by our side when no one else will.
As a body of Bible based Christian believers, we see our whole purpose as doing the will of God so that His Spirit might be manifested in our midst. With His hand we hope to convince others that Christ is our Lord and Savior. We want to show that if we trust in Him, He will very clearly show us that He is who He claims to be.– a Provider who can supply whatever we need whenever we need it under any and all circumstances, a Physician with no limitations in His healing power, a Counselor with infinite understanding and wisdom. We would very much like to reflect Christ in our midst as the Good Shepherd (Psalms 23 and John 10:1:18), as the one and only way to God, our Father in heaven.
Consequently, our Bible based churches goal is to get others to see the love of God and act accordingly. Undoubtedly God wants us to do His will but He wants it to be done out of love. God wants us to serve Him not because we have too but because we want too. God wants us to serve Him because we see Him as He is. He wants us to do His will because we see that doing His will is for out good. This is the purpose of our church and the platform on which it stands. We want to weld together a body of believers who love Jesus Christ so much that they want to be just like Him.
What Jesus Did
‘Dead!’ – Mark 15:44-45
[When Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body,] Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.
Key Thought
We should gather several bits of valuable information from these verses:
- Jesus died more quickly than most facing crucifixion — the brutal treatment with his beating and scourging, something most who were crucified did not endure, took a heavy physical toll on Jesus’ body. He died a horribly punishing death.
- Jesus was clearly and legally confirmed dead by those experienced in the work of torture and death, so there was no doubt that he died.
- Joseph could not remain a “closet” follower of Jesus and pick up his body — he had to request it from the one who gave permission for Jesus to be crucified, Pilate himself. Joseph’s actions are just one example that Jesus’ death summoned up something deep within people that touched them and moved them to honor him.
These facts are historically important and certified by witnesses, and they must be spiritually important to us and move us to honor him with our lives today.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank you for Jesus’ willingness to submit to such horrible suffering and death so that we — so that I — can be reconciled to you. Please help me to continually remember his sacrifice and let it be a continual reminder that I need to live my life as a daily praise to you and him. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.