Daily Companion  |  19 May

CONTINUOUS SACRIFICE OF PRAISE 

Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. - Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV)

Sacrifice is offering something precious to us, something that requires our time, our earthly possession, our energy and our best. Sacrifice should cost us something. And here in our key verse of the day, we are to continually make such sacrifice, not only in prayer as we often habitually do, but in praise! Not just a mere praise to God but a sacrificial one: that may cost us even the time of our prayer. 

When we teach or admonish in His Word, we are to do so with sacrificial praise “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:16,17). 

Interestingly, anything that has breath can praise God but not everyone that has breath can offer sacrifice of praise. Sacrificial praise is to be offered by those whose lives are already surrendered to God: the believers. “Ye ... as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Hence, our heart must be right before God, so it won’t be said of us, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8). 

There have been records of wonders through praise: wall of Jericho crashing and battle won for Jehoshaphat and Israel. More also, If unbelievers praise God and get blessed, how much more will the children of the kingdom be. “Ye are a royal priesthood.... that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). God works more wonders when we praise Him than when we pray. As good and important prayer is, it is more than often self-serving. Most prayers are based on our needs but praise should be like a "pound of flesh" taken from us to God. But it has to be offered willingly and joyfully.

Today’s Recite:  "But I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24)

Today’s Morning Prayers:  O Lord my God, I praise and worship You this morning for all that You have done, are doing and will still do. For whom You are. You are magnificent,  exceedingly wonderful and merciful Accept my sacrifice of praise this morning in Jesus name. Amen!

Today’s Hymn: PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY  

Today’s ReadMe:  NEHEMIAH 10 - 13