Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Hebrews 13 is the final chapter of Hebrews, and the writer gives final instructions on how we are to live out our faith. He says things like, "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters"— Hebrews chapter 13, verse 1. Then in verse 14 he says, "This world is not your home. Remember, you're just passing through." He gives us all these instructions of how we are to live out our faith. Then he says, "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise."
Why the Word "Sacrifice" Matters
The word "sacrifice" is important because in the Old Testament, people had to offer different types of sacrifices to be made right with God. There were animal sacrifices. Blood was required in order to get right with God. But the writer says, hey, listen—through Jesus, we offer a continual sacrifice of praise. My praise is not an animal or a grain offering. It is praise. That means I open my lips and I praise God.
Why is that important? Because our worship and our praise has to cost us something. I remember my mom told me a story about how back in the day, they didn't allow people to gather and meet in a church. When they would meet, they had to actually hide so that no one knew they were meeting for a church service. Now that is a sacrifice. Not only that, they had to walk a long distance. I think about my own life—aren't there days I don't feel like going to church? I've been in that place where I'm too tired.
Praise That Pushes Past Feelings
The writer is reminding us that our praise has to cost us something. There are going to be days where we're hurting. There are going to be days where we feel discouraged. He's saying, make sure that you have this continual praise on your lips. Let that be your sacrifice. Whether you feel like it or not, learn to push past your feelings. Don't let your feelings dictate your praise to God, because God deserves praise no matter how we're doing.
Here's what happens when we learn to take the attention off of ourselves and praise God: we shift our focus to the Lord, and He slowly starts to change us. Now we're not looking to ourselves. We're lifting up the name of Jesus. The verse says it's through Jesus—we offer it through Jesus, not through our good works. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, God accepts our praise. Why? Because the ultimate sacrifice is the sacrifice of Jesus. He died on the cross for us. So now you and I can boldly approach God, knowing that He is going to hear us.
When Praise Is Hard
I don't know where you're at today. Maybe you're in a season where you're saying, it's hard for me to praise right now. In fact, I don't even see a reason to praise.
Can I just encourage you and remind you that no matter how you feel, if you can just learn to lift your eyes to the hills and praise God, God is slowly going to start moving in your situation, because you're taking the attention off of yourself and placing it on Him.
Maybe you're thinking, well, I don't know how to praise. One of the practical things I do is write down things I'm grateful for. I'll write, God, I praise You for... and then I'll list things. Because a lot of sin comes from a place of ingratitude. But when we start to recognize how blessed we are—that we were saved from the wrath of God, that we have breath in our lungs, that we have a roof over our heads, that God has given us another day—we start to flow with gratitude. Before you know it, we're lifting our hands and praising God regardless of how we feel. So, does your praise to God cost you anything? I want to remind you—offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God.
