abounding in love: One Year Bible Reading for October 16

 Today we read from these verses in the One Year Bible:

Jeremiah 28:1-29:32
1 Timothy 1:1-20
Psalm 86:1-17
Proverbs 25:17 

Let's look at the Psalm. We see proof here that the idea in the picture above is in error. I share the cartoon and it's funny. And many people THINK of God that way. That in the Old Testament He was mean and cranky and liked to damn people to hell. But in the New Testament, He's all about love and forgiveness. 

But when you read carefully, you find that God is the same in both the OT and NT. And today's Psalm is a nice picture of that. It says, "You, Lord, are forgiving and good: abounding in love for all who call on You."

ABOUNDING in love. For who? Just the Israelites? No. For all who call on Him. Remember, God was full of love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness throughout the Old Testament. He was so forgiving of the people of Nineveh that it made Jonah mad!

And don't forget that Jesus (in the NT) talked about hell more than any other subject. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

God, thanks for always abounding in love for us. Help us to abound in love for each other.