Throughout God’s Word, we get the message that praise and thanksgiving honor God. Psalm 50:23 clearly says so:
“Whoeveroffers praise and thanksgiving as a sacrifice honors God.”
That seems easy to do when things go smoothly, but then we might be apt to forget God’s work in our lives. Trials and hardships can joggle our memory, but then we’re likely to pray, “Why, Lord?” or “God, help!” instead of recognizing the situation as a Romans 8:28 moment to pray, “Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You for the things You’re working out for my good and the well-being of my loved ones.”
God wants us to honor Him by trusting His love, believing in His word, and thanking Him even in dark times or when difficulties surround us. He delights in a sacrifice of praise – not the animal sacrifices once instituted for the temporary covering of sin.
Actually, God not only instituted that initial blood sacrifice, He performed it! Remember when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and suddenly knew they were naked? God Himself clothed them with tunics of animal skins, which indicates the sure death of those animals and the genesis of fur coats!
Praise God! He has also provided the very last blood sacrifice through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Unlike those animals, Jesus willingly accepted His sacrificial death, once and for all, thus providing another wardrobe and fulfilling Isaiah 61:10:
The King James Version of the Bible (KJV) translates Isaiah’s prophecy like this: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”
Think of it! We no longer need cover-ups for our sin! We’re now fully clothed with the righteousness, sinlessness, and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Who dresses us in His salvation! And so,
“By Him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name,” Hebrews 13:15, KJV .
So be it! Amen!
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