Old Testament Scripture Reading: (Psalms 117:1 – 2 KJV)
Psa 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
Psa 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
New Testament Scripture Reading: ( John 13:13 – 20 KJV)
Joh 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Joh 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Joh 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
Joh 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) Even a cursory look at this entire Psalm, the shortest in the Psalter, reveals that God has maintained a desire to extend His protective covering of His great mercy not only to His chosen covenant people, but also to the Gentiles, whom the Psalmist is calling on to praise God for His mercies and His enduring truth!
2) Our Lord Jesus continued giving instructions on extending His super-natural love and protective grace even while He knew that He would shortly be betrayed and even crucified, yet His teaching never ceased and it deeply challenged His disciples as He displayed concern for others, even down to the menial task of washing their feet.
3) God has dispatched you and me to disburse the message of His super-natural protective covering, which is motivated by His great love for us, which was publicly displayed when His Only-begotten Son died to pay our sin bill completely, purely by His grace, and displayed even greater love when He defeated the grave after three days and nights!