In a Bible I previously owned (that was stolen out of my car...) I had made a list of several verses that all mentioned 'a sacrifice of thanksgiving.' Now we know that He loves for us to give thanks to Him from cheerful hearts, but I've often wondered how much more it may mean to Him when it's a sacrifice. What about when you don't get the job you really wanted? What about when your heart's been broken by another, whether intentionally or unintentionally? It's much harder to offer Him thanksgiving then rather than when the ring's been put on your finger or you just got a great raise or bonus.
Let's take a look at just two or three of these verses, but there are many more. It might be a good little Bible study you can do later.
Psalm 50:23 says, "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Wow! Okay...the second part of the verse is talking about obedience, but He says we honor Him when we offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Don't we all want to do that? Does it honor Him when it's NOT a sacrifice? Yes, but He makes special mention here of it being a sacrifice that honors Him.
In the same Psalm, but verse 14, Asaph quotes God as saying, "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most high;" part of Spurgeon's comment on this is as follows: Not for want of bullocks on the altar was Israel blamed, but for want of thankful adoration before the Lord. She excelled in the visible, but in the inward grace, which is the one thing needful, she sadly failed. Too many in these days are in the same condemnation. Spurgeon's been home with the Lord for a long time and yet these words are sadly at least as appropriate today as in his time. Isn't a sacrifice of thanksgiving one of adoration?
Then there's the verse that started it all for me: Hebrews 13:15 ~ Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. I love this verse! Wuest comments: The Rabbins had a saying, "in the future time all sacrifices shall cease; but praises shall not cease." Then does it not make sense to offer Him sacrifices now, while we can? Whether it be praise, or other kinds? After all, per Hebrews 13:15, we're to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God through Him! Through the One Who was and still is the Living Sacrifice, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world! For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom 11:36)
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