Perpetual Praise

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Hebrews 13:15

I had hoped to start this devotion with a strong spiritual statement, but all I hear in my head is the silly tune, “This is the song that never ends. It just goes on and on, my friend. Somebody started singing it not knowing what it was, and they’ll continue singing it forever just because…This is the song that never ends. It just goes on and on, my friend...etc…etc..etc…” I’m not sure how that song first began, but it truly never ends, for again and again, with ease and and without hesitation, the stanzas repeat and repeat and repeat. (Hey, that reminds me, “Pete and Re-Pete were sitting on a fence. Pete fell off. Who was left??”)

Please don’t stop reading. My lunacy has a point. Though silly songs and lame jokes become irritating when incessantly reiterated, some things should never cease—starting with our praise. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name”(Heb. 13:15).

In the old (as in Old Testament) days, sacrifice in the temple was a recurring practice. Each day brought new death—two lambs who would give their lives for God’s children. Since the cross, such sacrifices are no longer needed, but the pattern of perpetually looking to God and lifting Him up has not ended. Praise from our lips and in our hearts is an appropriate offering which we should give not intermittently or sporadically but continually. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.”

Our praise should never even pause. With ease and without hesitation, our stanzas of gratitude and delight for God’s presence, His blessings, and His grace should repeat and repeat and repeat. No matter who or what falls off the fence of our lives, our praise should remain. A shell-shocked and sorrowful Job worshiped with the words, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” On the run for his life, seeking refuge in a cave, David’s cry for help segued into a chorus of praise and exaltation. “For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies”(Ps. 57:10). And at about midnight, bloody backs and confining chains couldn’t keep Paul and Silas from praying and singing hymns to God(Acts 16:25).

“Is anyone happy?” Then “let him sing songs of praise”(James 5:13). Is anyone hurting, then let him worship as he weeps, for these “light and momentary trouble are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”(2 Cor. 4:17). Our salvation is sure. Our future is secured. Jesus has “suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood”(Heb. 13:12). And “our sin, not in part but the whole, has been nailed to the cross and we bear it now more. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!”

If we confess His name, we should continually praise His name. We know what we’re singing, and nothing should stop our song, for He alone is worthy.

Without end, my friend.