Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV)
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer
to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess
his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for
with such sacrifices God is pleased.
The Amplified Bible describes a sacrifice of praise: Through
Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice
of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess
and glorify His name. Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good.
(Hebrews 13:15-16) Praise and thanksgiving as a form of worship begin with our
knowing the love of God. David knew the Good Shepherd from the time he was a
shepherd in the fields. As King of Israel, he continued to praise and thank God
for His hand upon his life and the people of Israel. After the Lord had
delivered David from the hand of his enemies and from Saul, he praised God in
song: I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my
enemies. (II Samuel 22:4) God is indeed worthy of our praise and thanksgiving!
Many of the psalms reflect the theme of praise. They reflect Israel’s awareness
that praise must follow deliverance when God is to be honored. Praise sprang up
from David’s heart of thankfulness to the Lord for his deliverance.
Over the years I have learned that praising and thanking God
takes the focus off of me and turns it to God. In the “me first” world, I
easily am caught up with thinking that the world revolves around me. When I had
my first child, I had my first lesson in self-sacrifice. My child was totally
dependent on me and I came to know the rewards of living my life for someone
else. Jesus Christ laid down His life for us – the ultimate act of sacrifice –
and He thereby set an example for us of sacrifice. We now must offer our lives
back to Him in praise and thanksgiving. Yes, this is a sacrifice when going
through difficult times, but the reward is great. As we praise, honor and thank
Him, our circumstances may not change, but the peace of the Lord will fill our
hearts.
Thought for today:
How do I demonstrate my gratitude during hard times?
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