Scripture

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus continual sacrifice of praise to God proclaiming our allegiance to His name.

Observation

In the old covenant, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the temple, and their bodies were burnt outside the camp. Jesus died outside the city to make us holy. We need to go where He is and bear his disgrace.

This world is not our home. We are passing through on our way to a permanent dwelling place.

We should offer a continual sacrifice of praise to Jesus. This is our oath of allegiance to Him.

We should obey our spiritual leaders, so that they can rejoice in their responsibility.

Application

The Old Testament sacrifices are gone. Under the covenant of Christ, the only sacrifice left is the sacrifice of praise.

Our sacrifice his to be continual. Just as the animal sacrifices were offered night and day, so we must learn to be so full of joy and thanksgiving the praise almost leaks out of us. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul tells us to “Rejoice always, pray constantly and give thanks in all circumstances.”

It is easy to praise God when our lives are going well. The sacrifice of praise comes when we learn to praise God when things are going badly for us. God is still the same god when we are enjoying green meadows as when the flood waters are raging around us. He is worthy of praise always. The sacrifice comes when we praise Him anyway even if it is hard to see His hand at work.

Praise must come from the heart and not from the lips only. I know someone who uses the phrase, “praise the Lord,” almost as a swear word. Bang your shins, and it’s “Praise the Lord.” This is not the sacrifice of praise. When we say, “Thank you” to God from a joyful heart, then we have learnt to offer the sacrifice .

Prayer

Please help me Lord to remember to praise you even in the difficult times. Amen.

Scripture

Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Observation

We should continue to love one another, entertain strangers, and remember those in prison.

Marriage must be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure. God will judge those who are immoral. We should keep our lives free from the love of money, and instead trust the Lord.

We need to be wary of strange teachings, remembering our hearts are strengthened by grace and not by eating the right foods.

Application

Our culture has elevated sexual depravity to an art form. What was once, just a generation ago, considered contemptible and disgusting is now celebrated as desirable.

Marriage is seen as a more or less temporary affair with cheating and divorce expected as the norm.

Scripture teaches us that God has a very high view of marriage. In Ephesians, Paul says that marriage is a picture of the covenantal faithfulness of Christ to the church. The intimacy of husband and wife is analogous to the intimacy between Christ and His own Bride.

Marriage is not a light thing. It is no light thing. It is not a mere human convenience. It is God’s idea, God’s plan for the ordering of a civil society.

It is no wonder that the devil hates marriage and tries to undermine it in every way possible.

Christians must honour marriage and try to encourage every husband and every wife to rejoice in their relationship.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for marriage. Thank you for my wife whom I love more than life itself. Amen.