Until Jesus returns, the church will always be that odd assortment of male and female, old and young, wise and foolish, saints and sinners, honesty and hypocrisy. It is God’s shelter, safe yet dynamic, a place of sweet redemption,  deep fellowship and growth in wholeness unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We offer here timeless pictures of the God who loves and saves, as of the people privileged to be objects of His love.

—Editors.

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”
Amos 3:3.

“And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion’”
Ex. 33:19.

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’

“But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’”

Gen. 32:24-26.

“[Joseph’s] brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said.

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them”

Gen. 50:18-21.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all”

Isa. 53:5, 6.

“‘Neither do I condemn you,’
Jesus declared.
‘Go now and
leave your life of sin’”

John 8:11.

“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

“When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.’

“Jesus answered him, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’

“‘Tell me, teacher,’ he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?’

“Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.’

“‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said.

“Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’

“Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven’”

Luke 7:36-48.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate”

Luke 15:21-24.

“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly”

Luke 22:61, 62.

“Then [the thief] said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise’”

Luke 23:42, 43.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. . . .
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise”

Ps. 51:10-17.

“We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act!”

Dan. 9:18, 19.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails”

1 Cor. 13:4-8.