Sacrifice of Praise

^“11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. ¹² And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. ¹³ Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. ¹⁴ For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Hebrews 13:11-15 NIV

I recently read the blog of someone I know, a 29 year old mother with a 5 month old son and inflammatory breast cancer. It was amazing to read wonderfully uplifting and positive words from someone who has every reason to be angry with God. She continues to keep her eyes on Jesus and to witness to His love and grace. Such an inspiration.

Sometimes worship and praise comes easily. The high points of our lives: the birth of our children, a promotion at work, our wedding day or just when things are going swimmingly well. It is easy to stand and sing, “How great is our God” at those times. At other times, however, that same praise is a sacrifice. It comes at a price. It doesn’t even have to be song, just professing His name in times of trial or even persecution, can be hard enough.

Personally, I experienced this after my miscarriage. I arrived in the UK only to discover at 13 weeks pregnant that my baby had died at about 7 weeks. I was devastated. A week and a half later, I was standing in church singing praises to our good God. It wasn’t easy and my heart continued to break. It was a sacrifice, but it was powerful. I could feel something shift and, of course, I was comforted.

I cannot imagine the road my friend has to walk on, and I know many people have incredibly difficult journeys. Some are short lived, some last a lifetime. In those times, if we can continue to openly profess His name and offer a sacrifice of praise, He will meet us we we are. We will be comforted. Of course, the amazing thing is that if we can’t do it, He will still meet us where we are. We will still be comforted, because His grace and love exceeds anything we can think or imagine.

So why should we offer a sacrifice of praise? Because Jesus went outside the city walls. He suffered humiliation, disgrace, pain and death. All for us. I think if we could actually continually get our minds around that one thought… praise wouldn’t be such a sacrifice after all.

Anthony Gormly sculpture in Winchester Cathedral

Crown of Thorns

“and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him.” Matthew 27:29

I found the above old dry branch 5 years ago in the Cedarberg mountains. It’s beauty struck me and I picked it up and took it back to the cottage. I have kept it with me on my mantlepiece, always planning to photograph its stark and weathered lines. This week I finally did and no matter how I tried I just couldn’t shoot my usual close up macro shot. It didn’t work. The branch needed to be shown in its entirety. While I was photographing it the words “crown of thorns” came into my head.

Now when I look at it I am reminded of Christ’s sacrifice for us. The Message version of Isaiah 53 says:  ”But it was our sins that did it to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him – our sins! He took the punishment that made us whole, through his bruises we get healed.” I don’t often reflect on the unbelievable pain that he endured for us. The humiliation and shame that he faced. The Passion of the Christ burnt into my mind a picture of the crown of thrown being pushed down onto Jesus’ head, but only when I think about it.

What amazing loving and sacrifice that he should endure that all for me. Not only for my salvation, but also that I might be made whole.

Feel the reins in my hand.

Should I risk the path of service,

Release my needs to the will of an other?

Reach into festering humanity.

Give up my wine for daily bread?

He freely walked into hard-baked agony.

Knelt in the sewers of society.

Carried other’s burdens in torn flesh.

Bled into the cup of victory.

Will I trust His perfect sacrifice

and let Him change my life?