Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Heb. 13:15)
BAA. BAA. BAA. The little lamb’s bleating tugged at my heart as we drove to market. With eyelids brimming with tears, I said, “I wish he would be quiet.” My father softly agreed. However, the little lamb “baa-ed,” or “openly professed,” his discomfort.
Lambs were frequently sacrificed in the Old Testament to atone for the people’s sins. The animal sacrifices reminded the people of laws they had broken. However, these laws, written on stone tablets, could not change hearts. Christ was called the Lamb of God. His death atoned for our sins and, by faith, we can accept Christ’s redeeming sacrifice and free our hearts of guilt. Christ’s death paid the penalty for our sins and made it possible for us to boldly approach the holy God and ask for forgiveness. The writer of Hebrews states that our lips are to offer continually a sacrifice of praise to God for the Lamb who paid with his life for our sins.
These praises could be visiting a lonely widower, giving a financial gift to meet needs of a single mom, taking a meal to a person caring for an ailing husband, cheerfully letting others go first, or not plunging ahead in a crowded grocery store. Bleating praises from our lips can continually proclaim his unconditional love and forgiveness to us.
Openly offer a praise sacrifice to one in need of Christ’s touch.
Gena Duncan teaches Bible classes in her church. She and her husband spend summers in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and winters in Naples, Florida.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
