The Fruit of PRAISE, THANKSGIVING.
“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. “-{Heb 13:15-16}
Through HIM, the Father’s “Beloved,” we are to continually, not sporadically offer up a sacrifice of praise to God for who He is. His greatness, goodness, generosity, and contemplating and celebrating Him as we see Him for who He is in the Scriptures.
When our twins were about two years old, we lived in the countryside, the nights were very dark due to the absence of street lights. On one occasion I was carrying them one at a time from the car to the house. It was a beautiful clear night and the stars were marvelous. As I carried our little boy in I said “look at the stars King Jesus made” and he looked up and said, “wow, wow, wow!” I left him safely in the house and went back to the car for his sister and carried her in and I said “look at the stars King Jesus has made” but she wouldn’t look up. So, I put my hand under her chin to help lift it so she could see, but she would not, and there was no “wow” from her lips because she never beheld the wonder! For some there is no “Wow” on their lips because they have never beheld the wonder of Jesus Christ, they are lost and dead in their sins. But for others, believers we have taken our eyes off Him and let the things of earth crowd out and control our thinking and there is little praise on our lips because we have forgotten the “WONDER” of the Cross of Christ!
Think on Him, meditate upon His Word, and ask Him through His Word to reveal Himself to you for whom He is. Jesus opened their minds in the scripture to reveal Himself to the disheartened disciple on the road to Emmaus. and the result? Their hearts burned! Look for Jesus in the Scriptures, build up a knowledge of His character to choose to offer Him praise and thanks!! Read the Psalms and look at the reasons the Psalmist gives to GOD for His character and works! And then you choose to praise, THANK Him also! Thanksgiving Glorifies Him-{Luke 17:15-17; Thanksgiving is DOING His Will {Read 1 Thess 5:18}. He is worthy!
Note. Fruit of speech and sacrificial service. Lips and Life! Praising Him because HE IS Worthy. Praising Him not because life is a bed of roses but when it is a bed of sharp nails and broken glass when life is painful He is still worthy to be spoken well of Praised! The Fruit of Thanksgiving to God. They are a thankful, grateful people rather than a complaining ungrateful people. In Romans 1, one of the characteristics of a lost person is they are thankful!
Let us too choose to PRAISE HIM… Give THANKS to Him… and continue to DO GOOD… which such sacrifices God is well pleased…
Your choosing to GIVE THANKS… is WELL PLEASING TO GOD! How about that for a MOTIVATION to Give GOD THANKS!
God bless.
Aidan.