LIGHT FOR A THANKFUL LIFE (7)

“Therefore BY HIM 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

It is by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that we receive LIGHT for a THANKFUL LIFE: “Therefore BY HIM let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, GIVING THANKS to HIS NAME” (Heb.13:15). Christ is the ultimate Sacrifice and all we should and can do is to respond to this climactic act that fulfils all sacrifices. "By Him," which means "By Jesus," we can go directly to God. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (v.8). And, this Unchanging Changer opened the way to eternal life for us, removing the barrier between God and humanity so we can enter into His very Presence.

In Christ, we’ve obtained Grace to be thankful. An unthankful person is out of the grace of God. One cannot be unthankful and be His Grace. Praise or thanksgiving that is forced upon one is not real or authentic. David declared: "I WILL bless the Lord AT ALL TIMES: His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psa.34:1). Ephesians 5:20 says, “GIVING THANKS ALWAYS for ALL THINGS to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These scripture references affirm that we are to offer praise and thanksgiving to the Lord continually, at all times, always! The fruit of our lips is to be offered up to the Lord as a continual sacrifice. In the Old Testament, offerings were regularly given to the Lord. When people sinned, they had to offer a sacrifice, going continually to offer the innocent blood of animals to cover for their sin.

Now, by Grace, we can "...continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God...." Offer means it is a willing deal; a free will offering. No one will compel us to praise or thank Him. All through scriptures, Thanksgiving and Praise are related. For example, both are found in Psalms 35:18 and 100:4, “I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people...Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING, and into His courts with PRAISE. BE THANKFUL to Him, and bless His name.”  In particular, thanksgiving is an act of worship. It is not focused primarily on the benefits or blessings received; instead, God is the Centre of Thanksgiving. In thanksgiving, God is being honoured.

We should be glad that the Lamb of God – the Eternal Sacrifice – paid, once and for all, for our sin! But we are still in the offering business; no longer dead animals, but bringing living and acceptable Praise continually to God with the fruit of our lips – the words that we speak from our hearts. If it is in the heart, it will flow out of the mouth. The fruit, or produce, of our lips are words we speak in praise and thanksgiving to God. Beloved, let us be thankful!