Daily Devotionals

Worship Week 1: Friday

 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. Hebrews 13:15-16

When we love something or someone, we cannot stop talking about them. Whether this love is love for one’s spouse, friend, or favorite kitchen item, we often talk about that person or thing we love when we love someone or something. We simply cannot keep that love to ourselves. The same should be true of our love for God. You see, when we love God, He occupies our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection in such a way that we cannot help but think about Him and talk about Him all of the time. This is the natural response to loving Him. 

David reflects on God’s love, goodness, and faithfulness in Psalm 63, and He cannot help but express His love for God in response. He begins the Psalm by discussing his longing for God and His desire to be with Him. Then, he spends time reflecting on how God has carried and cared for him in the past during difficult times. Finally, he recalls God’s great love saying, “Your unfailing love is better than life itself” (verse 3). He concludes that God’s love is better than anything, even life itself. That means there is absolutely nothing better than God and His love.

 When David thought about God’s love, he could not help but burst into songs of praise. After talking about the greatness of God’s love, He wrote, “how I praise you!” (verse 7). This is the only appropriate response to God’s love: praise. That is why David concluded, “I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer” (verse 4).

A deep love for God means that He occupies our hearts and minds all throughout the day. This means reflecting on Him and His goodness, especially His goodness to us. And when we do this, we cannot help but praise Him. God’s love is better than anything, and this, my friends, changes everything. So rest in His love today, and let His great love lead to praise.

Moving toward action

Take a few minutes to think about God’s love for you. Read through Psalm 63. Think about everything He did to rescue you from sin. After reflecting on God’s love, pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Praise Him for who He is and everything He has done.

Going Deeper

Hebrews 13:10-25 (NLT)

" We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.

15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

18 Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do. 19 And especially pray that I will be able to come back to you soon.

20 Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

22 I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to pay attention to what I have written in this brief exhortation.

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released from jail. If he comes here soon, I will bring him with me to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders and all the believers there. The believers from Italy send you their greetings.

25 May God’s grace be with you all."