“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
Getting a family, especially one with young children, fed, dressed, ready, and out the door on time is never easy. But, have you ever found yourself saying: “It’s no big deal if we’re late for church. We won’t miss the message, just the singing?”
Okay, I’ll admit it. I said that on many occasions. If truth be told, some weeks, I considered myself lucky if we made it to church at all or without at least one major meltdown. But apparently, I wasn’t alone. My pastor often joked, saying there was “on time” and there was “Pure Heart time.” (The name of our church when our children were small was Pure Heart.)
Regrettably, my lousy attitude kept me from experiencing one of God’s greatest gifts: a time of worship. Now, you might be thinking I have it backward. After all, isn’t our worship a gift to God, not the other way around? And yes, this is true. We worship God as an act of gratitude for all He gives us. “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:17, NIV).
But during worship, we can also shift our focus off our busy lives and bask in the peace and strength of God’s presence. Thus, being in God’s presence is truly a present. Perhaps that’s one reason why we raise our hands during worship. After all, that’s what children do when they want to be held by their Father.
If praising God is such a gift, why is it so hard to stop our busy lives, focus on God, be grateful, and offer Him praise and gratitude? I certainly am thankful and love giving him adoration. It’s the slowing down part I have trouble with. Somehow, I always seem to focus too much on myself, my to-do list, and my life. Perhaps you can relate? No wonder the Bible reminds us, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13:15, NIV).
Although Christians are no longer under the law of the Old Testament, we can still offer God sacrifices. Thus, this verse encourages us to continually express verbal praise to God as our “spiritual sacrifice,” much as the Israelites sacrificed animals. Interestingly, God chose to use the words “sacrifice of praise.” It shows how well He knows and understands us. Even though this verse was written thousands of years ago, it’s still applicable today. After all, in our current culture, our time and focus are as important a sacrifice to us as prized animals were to the Israelites.
How can we apply the “sacrifice of praise” daily?
- Focus on the positive. Actively look for opportunities to be grateful and praise God through prayer or worship music throughout the day.
- Seek opportunities to speak openly about our faith and express our gratitude and praise of God, even in casual conversation.
- In tough times, intentionally choose worship over worry. This will shift our focus from the problem to the problem solver.
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for every good gift you have given me. I praise you for my food, family, shelter, and eternal life through Jesus’ Sacrifice. Help me remember to slow down and offer you the sacrifice of my time and agenda so I may praise you. You are mighty and worthy of all honor and praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
