“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13.15 NIV).
Someone once asked: Why is “praise” pictured as a “sacrifice” in this verse? “Sacrifice” customarily carries the connotation of cost. And the question correctly recognizes that true worship is costly to the worshiper.
“Praise” is further described as “the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Notice the phrase “openly profess.” Other translations have “acknowledge.” Genuine worship is all about declaring one’s absolute allegiance to the God who is worshiped. Such allegiance implies a denial of my desires, my preferences, even my alleged right to control my life and destiny. Genuine praise involves the submission of our very being to the authority and control of the Lord. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12.1 NIV).
This declaration of allegiance is to be done “continually.” It is not a one-time event but a life-long, day-to-day commitment to submit to the Lord’s bidding. As The Message version would put it: “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering” (Romans 12.1 The Message).
David provides a commendable example of one who understood and embraced the cost of worship (1 Chronicles 21.18-25). In obedience to an instruction from the Lord to build an altar on the threshing floor owned by Araunah, he approaches the owner to purchase the property. Araunah offers the property to David for free. But David refuses, and declares: “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”
When we worship God in obedience to him, it will cost us. Worship will cost worshipers their very being, their time, their skills, their energy, their resources. Worship is costly. For many, this makes the worship of God look quite burdensome. But for the one who engages in genuine worship, it is a thrill and joy (Psalm 27.4; 122.1). When Moses asked for voluntary contributions toward the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 25.4-9), the response of the people was so overwhelming that Moses had to give the order for them to stop (Exodus 36.2-7). When we truly recognize the worth of the God who is to be worshiped, and how much he has blessed us, we cannot help but joyfully worship and give him our all.
—Keith Y. Jainga