Read Hebrews 13:11-16

 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.

Big Idea: Praise is an offering of our lives to God.

In the law, God established sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin through the guilt and sin offerings. However in Leviticus 3 and 7, we read about another offering called the fellowship offering (or peace offering). While the sin and guilt offerings were required for forgiveness, the fellowship offering was optional and given as an offering of thankfulness and vow to the Lord. It was also very personal. The worshipper would bring the offering, “with their own hands” and wave the offering before the Lord as worship (Leviticus 7:28-30).

Because God had delivered the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt and provided for their every need in the desert. Because He dwelt with them in the tabernacle and provided a way for their sins to be forgiven. For all this and more, through the fellowship offering, they had a way to say thank you.

The book of Romans tells us of our own captivity. We understand “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23) and “that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8). We know “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23). And through His mercy, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (10:9).

What amazing news! Powerless to free ourselves from sin, Jesus offered Himself to set us free from sin, adopt us into God’s family, and make us heirs of the promise of eternal life. From this understanding, our response is THANKFULNESS! Romans 12:1 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Because of the amazing mercy of God, we present our lives as a fellowship offering to the Lord! This is worship. It goes well beyond the songs we sing in church; it is a heart filled with thankfulness that willingly offers itself to Him each day as a living sacrifice.

Takeaway Verse:

Song For Today:

Looking For More?

Devotions4Teens Videos: I Want to See, Sneaky Sin,  3 Tips to Help You Grow Closer to God!, Becoming More Like Jesus, Sharing Your Faith, The Gospel- 3 Minute Presentation

Similar Devotions: Oh My Soul, Your First, Bring Everything, Our Part In The Story, Authentic Worship, Only the Best, Remaining Faithful, Consuming Fire, The Great Exchange, It’s Personal, Why Am I Here?, The Perfect Sacrifice