“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:15-16
Do you want to please God? The good news is that if you’re a follower of Jesus, He already took care of the hard work necessary to please God. You just need to trust your life to Lord Jesus and God will be pleased with you. After that, simply practice day-to-day things that reflect who you already are in Jesus Christ. Here, the author of Hebrews lists three daily habits that are truly pleasing to God.
First, praise God regularly. Praise Him in gathered worship with other believers and praise Him throughout the week in your own quiet times of worship, prayer, Bible reading, and meditation. Praise His name – the Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, just, righteous, and holy. Cultivate a habit of regular praise for God at various times throughout the day. Yes, it takes time and intentionality but it’s a sacrifice that pleases God.
Then, do good things and share what you have with others who are in need. Don’t do these to save yourself but because God has already done and shared the very best with you through Jesus Christ. Rather than focus on yourself and your needs, think about how you can share whatever you have (whether it’s a lot or a little) with others. Make it the habit of your life to just do good things. It might require some discipline at first but should quickly become an essential part of who you are. These are also sacrifices pleasing to God. He isn’t looking for occasional dramatic gestures. He’s looking for a day-in-day-out life of praise, good deeds, and sharing. That’s what truly makes God smile. Are you in? #FollowJesus