Sacrifice of Praise -- His Sacrfice, Our Praise

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13: 15)

At first, I had the narrow attitude that I would praise God in order for him to do something for me.

I had too narrow an understanding of what God has already done for me:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 17-21)

Through His death, we have continuous access to his perfect righteousness and the grace to live His life in us. He took all of the condemnation that we justly deserve, and in exchange we receive His righteousness. Even when we sin, God's grace will all the more abound in our lives.

If that's not something to shout praise for every day, then we have all too narrow an understanding of all that God has done for us. There's more:

"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." (John 17: 4)

and

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. " (Ephesians 2: 10)

and

"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4: 3)

Everything is made ready for us! Praise Him now, for by faith you will see His work working out of us (Philippians 2: 12).

And why do we give "thanks to his name?" John explains why:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1: 12-13)

We receive Himself into our lives through His Holy Spirit, and the life that we know live, we live by Jesus' own faith! (Galatians 2: 20)

His Sacrifice is worthy of all praise, and we have not yet begun to realize by faith all that He has done for us!