Hebrews 13:16 – “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Have you ever paused to consider that your life could bring joy to the heart of God? Scripture reminds us over and over that we were created not just to exist, but to live in a way that delights Him. To know that the Creator of the universe can take pleasure in the way we live is both humbling and inspiring.
When we encounter God’s grace and experience the gift of new life in Christ, something within us stirs. Gratitude awakens a desire to give back—not because we must, but because we can. Since He has given us everything—life, forgiveness, hope, and love—it feels natural to respond by offering Him everything we are.
THE FIRST SACRIFICE: PRAISE
The writer of Hebrews describes one way we can live a life pleasing to God: through praise. Worship is more than music or words; it is the posture of our entire being in response to who God is and what He has done.
True worship is not confined to a Sunday service or a song we sing. It is expressed in the quiet choices we make daily—in the way we speak, how we serve, and how we use our time. Every moment can become an offering of worship when we live with a heart turned toward Him.
When we praise God, we lift our eyes above our circumstances and declare His goodness. Praise is powerful because it shifts our focus from what is broken in us to what is perfect in Him. And that pleases His heart.
THE SECOND SACRIFICE: LOVE IN ACTION
But the writer of Hebrews doesn’t stop there. He also reminds us that we please God when we love others. Doing good, serving, sharing, and caring for those around us are tangible expressions of God’s love flowing through us.
The way we treat people matters. Every act of kindness, every word of encouragement, and every gesture of generosity becomes a reflection of the love we have already received. When we love others, we echo God’s heart for them.
This is why the two cannot be separated. To love God is to worship Him; to truly worship Him is to love others. As Jesus once summarized so beautifully: the greatest calling on our lives is to love God with all our hearts and to love others as ourselves.
LIVING A LIFE THAT PLEASES GOD
So how do we live this out? It begins with simple, intentional steps:
Spend time each day in prayer, not just asking, but praising—thanking God for who He is.
Look for opportunities to serve, even in small ways, and see them as offerings of love.
Remember that the way you treat others is also a form of worship, reflecting the God you serve.
Loving God and loving people are not separate assignments—they are intertwined. The deeper our love for God, the more freely we are able to love others. And the more we love others, the more our lives bring delight to Him.
AN INVITATION TODAY
Your life can be an offering of worship and love. Every word of praise, every act of kindness, and every moment of generosity becomes a sacrifice that pleases the heart of God.So today, ask yourself: How am I worshiping God with my life? How am I showing His love to others? In these two simple yet profound ways, we fulfill the purpose for which we were created—to bring joy to the heart of God.
Amen.
HERE ARE SIX KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS FROM ‘A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE’
We were created to bring joy to God, and our lives can reflect His pleasure when we live in gratitude.
Praise is more than singing—it’s the posture of our hearts and the choices we make each day.
Worship lifts our eyes from our struggles to God’s unchanging goodness and faithfulness.
Loving others is an act of worship, reflecting the love God has already poured into us.
Loving God and loving people are inseparable; one naturally flows from the other.
Every word of praise and every act of kindness becomes a living sacrifice that brings pleasure to God.
