Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

This sacrifice of praise could be describing a number of ways to give praise to God. It requires sacrifice to get up on a Sunday morning and go to church to praise the Lord and open our hearts to the teaching of the Word. In the northwest, Washington and Oregon are the two most unchurched states in the nation. People are so independent that many feel they don’t need God, or need the life of the church to know God.

The following verse gives another idea of what this sacrifice can mean: “the fruit of lips that confess his name.” This could mean that there’s a sacrifice involved in taking the risk to share with unchurched people about Jesus and His saving grace in our lives. The word continually speaks to me about having a lifestyle of giving praise and thanks to God each day and through each day. This kind of praise is attractive, contagious and can create an atmosphere of faith, confidence and praise. Then the following verse gives further meaning to the praise that has the kind of substance that is evidenced by a life of serving others.

There are so many points of application from these two verses. I am inspired to give God credit more often for all He’s blessed me with. I need to pray and look for those opportunities to praise God and confess His name to unchurched people, sometimes people I don’t know that I may come in contact with through the day. I am challenged to let His praise be on my lips more often so that it I am truly praising Him continually through the day. I know there’s a promise of His presence in a dynamic way when we choose to praise Him. Praising Him continually means that I would be living in His presence continually.

I am also inspired to be a visible expression of the presence of Jesus by doing ‘good and sharing with others,’ for this is the sacrifice that God is pleased with.

Father God, I praise you for the gift of praise and worship that You have given to me. I understand that as I praise You, I am reminded of heaven’s perspective and can pray with confidence. Praise can be a powerful form of prayer and I want to enter into a more consistent lifestyle of praising you. I pray that my praise would have the kind of confidence that purges all doubt. Lord Jesus, come fill me with your Spirit that I may praise You each and every day and through each day. Help me to have the strength and courage to praise You in the midst of good times and tough times.

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