“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 NKJV
t is easy to praise God when everything is going well. It is easy to lift your hands, sing songs, rejoice, and dance when prayers have been answered, when a new job comes through, when you move into your own place, complete a long-awaited project, get married, have the baby you have been believing for, or finally see visible progress in your life. Praise flows naturally when things feel good.
But in Hebrews 13:15, the writer is not speaking about praise in general. Scripture covers different expressions of praise, and they do not all carry the same weight or demand the same thing from the worshiper. In this particular verse, the emphasis is on a specific kind of praise. It is called the sacrifice of praise.
This will cost you
A sacrifice, by definition, costs you something. It is not convenient. It is not easy. It stretches you. It draws from you. It is offered at a personal expense. That is why David said in 2 Samuel 24:24, “Nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.” David understood that a true sacrifice must come from a place of personal cost. That was why he refused to offer something that did not cost him anything.
So when Scripture calls this praise a sacrifice, it is telling us that this kind of praise is often painful to offer. It is not the everyday kind. It is the praise you give when circumstances are heavy, when answers delay, when prayers seem unanswered, and when your emotions are pulling you in the opposite direction. It is easy to read the story of Job and admire his response, but when bad news follows bad news in real life, offering praise becomes difficult. This praise is not dependent on how things feel. It is an offering that comes from obedience, not emotion.
By Him
The second thing the verse draws our attention to is how this sacrifice is offered. It says, “by Him.” This sacrifice of praise is offered through Christ. This is not something you are expected to do by your own strength. You cannot offer this kind of praise through sheer willpower. You must lean on Christ. You must rely on His strength, His Spirit, and His finished work.
Jesus understands your pain. He is not ignorant of your weakness. He is moved by the feelings of your infirmities. Through Him, you are able to rise above how you feel and praise God from a deeper place. Through His finished work, you are reminded that God is still trustworthy even when things do not go the way you expected.
When the Bible says, “by Him let us offer the sacrifice of praise,” it is acknowledging that this praise may hurt. But it also assures you that Christ is your help in offering it. Jesus Himself is the ultimate sacrifice, and through Him, you are given grace to offer yours.
Beloved, this is the invitation before us today. To offer God praise that costs us something. To trust Him enough to give what stretches us. To lean on Christ and present this sacrifice with a willing heart. Praise Him not only for what worked out, but also for what did not. Praise Him for the prayers that were not answered the way you wanted, for the doors that closed, and for the seasons that stretched you. This is the sacrifice of praise, and it is precious to God.
Prayer
Lord, I thank You today. I praise You not only for the things that worked out, but also for the prayers You did not answer the way I expected. I thank You for the delays, the closed doors, and the seasons that challenged my faith. Even when I felt disappointed or confused, You remained faithful. I let go of anxiety, frustration, and control, and I choose to trust You. Through Christ, give me the strength and grace to praise You in every season of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Reading for Today
Morning: Hebrews 13
Evening: Psalm 34
