Hebrews 13:15-16 says, “15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
In life, we will find ourselves experiencing times of suffering, troubles, and trials. Oftentimes, we are blindsided by them, occurring when we least expect it. Usually, we are seeking the answer to the question as to why we are going through these things. We can never prepare for those tragedies, and while we may not know the reason for them, God sees and knows! He chooses to show us His comfort to strengthen us through those times, and you will never know God’s power, peace and comfort unless you are weak, filled with anxiety and are broken in spirit.
In this passage of scripture, the writer of Hebrews gives three sacrifices in which God willingly accepts. The first is the sacrifice of praise, which is considered the fruit of our lips. That is a praise in which believers only speak of the goodness and glory of their Heavenly Father. It is considered a sacrifice because you do so when you are having a bad day or when all evil has seemed to have broken loose in your life. It is the fruit of our lips because it is something for which God is hungry. He desires our praises! Too often we only search for the blessings of God without taking into consideration that He is worthy of our praise. If He does not do another thing for us, then so be it because He has already done enough. The fact that He has saved us is more than enough! Therefore, we must bless Him in return.
I am reminded of when Jesus saw the fig tree from a distance, and it was covered with leaves. However, the closer He got to it, He realized that it bore no fruit. So, Christ cursed the fig tree, and it withered completely, even to its roots. The disciples were amazed by this, but it illustrated how important it was to not just “look” holy on the outside, but rather be “holy”. Holiness is not checking off the “do not do this sin” checklist, but it is about living a lifestyle of praise, which reflects the character and nature of God! Some people can try to act like they have it altogether on the outside, and yet they bear no fruit. They have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5).
God is not hungry for our leaves of manmade rituals, routines, hypocrisy, or traditions that attempt to cover up hidden and masked sins. This is junk food Christianity, which only results in a curse of spiritual malnutrition. God is hungry for our fruits of praise! He desires to feast off the fruit of the Spirit that we bear in our lives because it resembles His glorious character. Therefore, let us bear fruit that remains (John 15:16).
Secondly, God is well pleased with the sacrifice of doing good, which is loving and treating others with honor and respect when they do not deserve it. It is easy to be good to people who are good to you, but it is a different ball game when it is being good to someone who treats you like dirt. Romans 12:20-21 (KJV) says, “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” We are not called to seek vengeance by our own hands. Let God in handle that part! True justice in the kingdom is forgiveness anyways! We are called to overcome evil with good, being kind to others who hate us. Jesus loved His enemies, blessed them who cursed Him, did good to them that hated Him, and prayed for them which despitefully used and persecuted Him (Matthew 5:44). He did not just preach that message, but He lived it out! It is time we live that message out as well, knowing that where good and evil is always present (Romans 7:21). Therefore, we must allow our goodness that we have obtained through the Spirit of Christ to effectively witness and minister to those who are lost in sin and iniquity. This sacrifice is one that can result in the harvest of souls being saved. Never underestimate the ministry of kindness!
Finally, the last sacrifice that God is pleased with is pure unity and fellowship with other believers. This holy communion is much needed. It is through fellowship with other believers that you can gain strength and then strengthen others. It is where you can hold each other accountable and pray for one another face-to-face. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” It is a command for us in scripture to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together because when people gather together in one mind centered upon the goodness and glory of God, His presence shows up. When He comes, He brings salvation, healing, and deliverance!
It is so worth giving God a sacrifice of praise, one that He accepts!