SACRIFICE OF PRAISE – THANK OFFERING

Heb.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.

The book of Hebrews teaches us the very heart of the Christian life, a life lived in the presence of God. That was God’s intention at creation, for us to walk with the Lord and enjoy His company as the highest joy of our lives. Obviously something went terribly wrong leaving man to fend for himself, alienated from the Lord all of our lives. That was the purpose of Christ becoming a man, not just so we could be saved and go to heaven but that we could enjoy a life with Him now which continues and deepens in eternity. This verse represents our response as we realize what we have been given by the death of Christ, we will offer this sacrifice of praise now and continue throughout eternity. Here is how the Reformed Expository Commentary describes this.

“For many, the highest aspiration is simply to “get saved.” If they can just make it into heaven, that will be good enough for them. But this is not all that Christianity is about. Justification, a doctrine we rightly emphasize, is not the end of our salvation, but rather the means to a life of pleasing service unto God. Justification is often called the hinge on which the door of the gospel turns, and that is certainly true, but it is a door that is meant to be opened, to give us entrance into the presence of God, that we may live with joy and awe as royal children in this world, and offer our lives as sacrifices of praise for his ser­vice and pleasure. Jesus said that the Father is seeking worshipers to worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23–24). It is for this that we are saved, to live sacrificially unto him, to offer a lifestyle of worship, for the blessing of others and for the glory of his name.”

This sacrifice of praise should become the identifying characteristic in all of God’s sons and daughters. We realize the amazing life we have been given through the blood of Jesus and our response is worship. We have tasted the edge of something that is too good to be true and this will only increase in intimacy and intensity throughout eternity. This will be the very mark of my life, offering the Lord a sacrifice of praise.