Hebrews 13:15
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
“Eat your vegetables,” was a familiar command of my mother. She might as well have said, “take a bath,” or some other edict that no ten-year-old boy wanted to hear. Both instructions were for my benefit, but I had other things in mind. Fast forward to my years of parenting, and I found myself issuing similar decrees with the same response from my children as I once had. It’s not surprising, then, as God’s children, we often balk at His commands, no matter how good they may be.
When God commands us to offer up the sacrifice of praise,
He knows there are times it won’t be easy.
When God commands us to offer up the sacrifice of praise, He knows there are times it won’t be easy. Nor will it be what we necessarily want to do. It is, after all, a sacrifice, which by its nature is not rooted in feeling or impulse.
Many times, I feel unchristian and dull of spirit, and the words don’t effortlessly fall from my lips. In those moments, the sacrifice becomes an act of obedience. Yet, despite my feelings, I have found power in God’s charge to offer up expressions of worship and gratitude. Praise lifts our hearts and soul above the things that darken our day and hold us down.
The sacrifice of praise may remind us of eating our vegetables, but there is a life-giving strength and liberation in this offering. May God bring us all to the place of worship that transcends our little world to bring us face-to-face with His majesty.
Awaiting His return,
– Pastor Jack
Have you been blessed by Pastor Jack’s Devotions? Email us now: CLICK HERE
