"Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:15-16, NRSV)
It is interesting that the offering of praise to God is compared to and stated as a sacrifice. Literally a sacrifice is something that had to be given up—killed—in order to pay the debt. We are to give something up—kill it—in order to praise God. More so we are to do it continually!
What do I need to sacrifice? What do I need to let die in my life (I think this is more metaphorically—I don’t need to kill an animal or person—but something in my life). What do I hold on to that constricts my praise to God?
Then the very next sentence says to not forget to do GOOD and share what I have. So not only am I to sacrifice something to praise God, but a part of my sacrifice is my security and resources to help God—because that is pleasing to God.
Word and Deed aren’t separated biblically. To praise God, we need to proclaim Jesus with our lips and our actions—and it is (at least should be) a sacrifice for us. So if my life doesn’t seem sacrificial perhaps I am not proclaiming God or praising Him?
Lord, Teach me what it is that I must sacrifice to praise you. Help me to confess your name and to not neglect what is good and pleasing to you.
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This passage pushes me over the precipice of trust: Will i care more for Him or the thoughts of men? Am i willing to lay my life down for a friend? That He may be seen rather than me?
This requires the sacrifice of my comfort in the secular place...that as i bring His light into the darkness, i am willing to suffer the scorn and hatred that He did.
I know it says this in the Word. It is a question i must ask myself, again, and again. It's a persecutorial question...i am on the stand. Who is most important in the end?
Will i pretend that i don't know, and not acknowledge His name? Or shall i scream it from the mountain-top, the rafters, the witness stand?
Am i willing to sacrifice my place in community that He might have His? That the glory of His cross might shine again?
Am i truly willing to die?
Lay down my life, that others might eat of the fruit of LIFE that lives in His name? Praise God from whom all blessings flow??
I know these questions will continue to flow as the trial continues.
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