Sacrificial Praise

The previous verse speaks of maintaining a posture of sacrificial praise to God, our Father, for the gift of Christ, our Savior. Praise is usually thought of as an overflowing of joy and gratitude to God as we walk happily through life. Sacrificial praise, however, comes from a place of profound emptiness; from a place where broken hearts and broken dreams and unanswered prayers still cling tightly to the hope that can only be found in the goodness of God. This praise is stubborn, it is intentional, it is pure. This is worshiping in the dark.

It is from this posture of unquenchable hope that we are to impact our world. We are to give when it isn’t easy, love with our whole hearts, and reflect the goodness of God to our world. This makes our Father smile. Is there any greater gift than that?