DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: DECEMBER 3 GIVING GOD SACRIFICE OF PRAISE (1) SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 13: 15

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Apostle Paul seemed to have categorized “praise” in Hebrews 13: 15 when he talked of “sacrifice of praise.” This could mean he had a particular type of praise to be given to God in his heart. The phrase “sacrifice of praise” drew the attention of today’s devotional into focus of discussion. What does Apostle Paul think by saying “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…” From ordinary man’s point of view, one would be confused a little to see sacrifice used together with praise. This is because, many people see sacrifice as “something offered at a great cost” on the side of the one offering. The people of God, in the Old Testament days offer to God sacrifice of rams, oxen, cattle, sheep and goats that are purchased with high costs. In talking of sacrifice of praise, a question might be asked “At what price can we get praise to offer it to God?”

However, in the spiritual context, Apostle Paul may be talking of offering quality praises to God through Jesus Christ. There are praises that are sacrificial. This are praises that cost human beings their quality times, energy and devotions from their inner life. One Writer, Amy Dunham, while talking of “sacrifice of praise” said that praise is very hard to give to God. She observed that after finishing from giving quality and prolong praise to God, one usually becomes very tied, as he or she experiences irking hands, joints and general exhaustions. Genuine praise obviously contains substance of sacrifice. We involve ourselves in sacrifice of praise when we forget all we are during praises and giving all in us wholeheartedly to God through praise. it is ridiculous seeing people giving praise to God with absent mindedness. Some people are seen giving God praises on the lips while their hearts are fixed on their earthly problems.

Majorly, a sacrifice of praise is that offered to God even while in pains and in sorrows. Sacrifice of praise should cost us our personal times too. Many unbelievers cannot sacrifice their business time for praising God. Sacrifice of praise takes all of our wills and lay them on the altar of God. In offering sacrifice of praise to God we have chosen that even though life is not going as we think it should, God is still good to be trusted and praised. This devotional thinks so. Until praise is given to God quantitatively and qualitatively from our body, spirit and soul, it is not sacrifice of praise. Like worship, we cannot be offering praise to God and our minds and hearts are far away from God. Apostle Paul did not leave us in the blues of what he thought “sacrifice of praise” should be. Follow us patiently into tomorrow’s devotional, the Beloved.

PRAYER:

JEHOVAH FATHER, take my understanding about giving you praise to the realms that my praise becomes sacrificial and worthy of acceptance in heaven in the name of Jesus Christ. Grant us Christians the privilege of knowing how to give you sacrifice of praise all the time in the name of Jesus Christ.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch