“God requires your sacrifice of praise, at precisely what seems like the worst moment, because it reveals Christ Jesus in your life.”
Terry Law
As we approach Holy Week and reflect on the Last Supper, the betrayal of Jesus, the denial from a close friend, His crucifixion, and His glorious resurrection, the very least we can give back to Jesus is sacrificial praise. We’re encouraged in Hebrews 13:15 to “continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.”
The word “sacrifice” means “offering something precious” and “precious” is defined as “of great value” or “highly esteemed or cherished.” One of the most precious gifts we can give to Jesus this Easter is that of sacrificial praise because it has great value and costs us something.
The way to display your great love for Jesus is by giving Him something costly to you. Giving Him praise – thanksgiving – for the very thing that hurts you the most is one way to say “I love you” to God. Thanking God for what you don’t understand when you can’t see from His perspective yet, is a costly gift of love you can give Him.
When you give God sacrificial praise, you are saying to Him, I trust You even though it hurts. I believe You are working out something so much better than I can imagine. You have my best interest at heart; therefore, I can thank You ahead of time before I see it come to fruition. Because You are trustworthy, I trust You to use the painful situation for my good and Your glory.
A sacrifice of praise takes faith to believe in God’s goodness before you see it in action and to trust His sovereignty over what you’re feeling. To give God sacrificial praise when we’re hurting and grieving a loss is one way, we honor God. “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me” (Psalm 50:23a).
1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” It may seem foolish to give God thanks for something that doesn’t feel good, and you don’t understand. But when you submit and obey God’s commands and offer up to God a sacrifice of praise even when you don’t feel like it, you are giving Him priceless gifts of love and trust.
“God has commanded the sacrifice of praise, and if it doesn’t cost you something, it isn’t a sacrifice.”
Terry Law
Relevant Reflections
In what circumstance do you need to give God sacrificial praise?
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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