20th August 2025

In Old Testament days, animal sacrifice was a daily part of life. Different kinds were made – grain, burnt, peace, sin and guilt. They were required for practically everything, from giving birth, touching anything dead, to physical ailments to cheating someone. As Christians, we now know and believe that all of those sacrifices pointed to and were fulfilled in the one time, once-for-all sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. 

We don’t sacrifice animals anymore, but if we read the Psalms and some verses in the New Testament, we find that daily sacrifices are still ‘required’, although of a very different kind. Psalm 50:14 (NLT) tells us, “Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God.” And verse 23 adds, “But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.” We also see this in Hebrews 13:15-16, ‘Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.’

What makes giving thanks and praise to God a sacrifice? Saying ‘thank you’ to someone for a gift might not seem like one, but saying ‘thank you’ to God probably is. When we stand in awe of him, giving thanks for life, for air, water and food, we are acknowledging his provision for us. Gratitude for all he has done for us comes from the understanding that we are not as self-sufficient as we would like to believe. It says we are dependent on him for everything – absolutely everything. That is a sacrifice of the self, the part of us that was an enemy to God before Jesus did his work of reconciliation in our hearts. It helps us continually bend our knees to his glorious presence. 

Gratitude is a choice. It lifts us above our circumstances to focus on God. It is a spiritual act that honours God, expressing worship to him as the great Sovereign of Life. Because Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect, there is no other blood sacrifice needed, but every day, we can bring him the sacrifices of thanksgiving, praise and worship. These are the ones that honour and please him, and make us love him more.

First published on 30 July 2025, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

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