LIVING CONTINUALLY IN PRAISE

“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” – Hebrews 13:15

God wants us to LIVE CONTINUALLY IN PRAISE: “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” (Heb. 13:15). The Bible consistently encourages a daily life of Praise and Thanksgiving: “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Col.1:12).

The core exhortation of the book of Hebrews can be summarised thus: “Jesus is worthy of your faith. Have faith in Him and do not fall away. Don’t put your ultimate trust in anything or anyone else but Him”! Chapter 13 presents a series of exhortations about how to live the Christian life: love the brethren; honour marriage; be content with God’s provision; remember and imitate those who first taught you the truth of God’s Word; and follow Christ no matter what else may be taught and no matter what it costs you (vv.1-9). The summit of the series of exhortations is in verses 15 and 16: the call to continually give sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God – to live continually in Praise Villa and walk on Praise-Lane!

God expects us, individually and collectively, to live as a sacrifice of praise to Him. This ought to be what we aspire, desire, and long to do. That is, because of what Jesus has done for us, and through His grace, we want to and long to live lives that are sacrifices of praise to God both in word and in deed. We can do this only through Christ, who Himself is the only real sacrifice. In response, our lives must be sacrifices of praise and gratitude to God – through Christ! Because of what He has done – paying the penalty, dying in our place, imputing His righteousness, justifying us by faith – God wants us to give a different kind of sacrifice; no longer the Old Testament animal sacrifice of atonement. Now, we live as a sacrifice of praise!

We are called to live as a sacrifice of praise to God with lips that continually acknowledge God in praise and in thanksgiving. We are called to constantly have Thanks on our lips – not as complainers, grumblers, critics or murmurers. When we wake up in the morning it should be instinctive to say, “Thank you, Jesus.”  It should be expected that thanks is the last thing out of our mouths at night. Being constantly aware of the mercies of God to us in Christ Jesus, we are thanking and thankful all the time. That’s how we live as a sacrifice of praise. We live with thanks to God in our hearts and on your lips all the time.

God wants us to give thanks every day, not complaints. The Scripture is clear in saying that this is the will of God concerning you: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for” (1The.5:18). A life of daily thanksgiving, however, doesn’t suggest a life devoid of challenges. Challenges may come, but in the midst of it all, lift your hands and say, “Lord, I give thanks, for greater is He that’s in me than he that’s in the world.” There’s no need to complain or grumble about any situation; as a child of God, you were born into victory; you can’t be disadvantaged. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

David said, “…I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psa.34:1). Keep His praise in your mouth, always. Praise Him in the morning. Praise Him in the noon time. Praise Him when the sun goes down. That’s how victors live: they don’t complain; they praise; they give thanks to the Lord. A lifestyle of gratitude will continually attract blessings and favour to you, giving you more reasons to give thanks! Alleluia!