A small story in 20 chapters
A cosy daily moment with Scripture, reflection, and a challenge to embed the word in your day.
Chapter 11
Finished ✦ on 28 January 2026
Scripture
Hebrews 13:15-16 [NRSVUE]
"15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
Reflection
Paul is speaking here about something that would have been deeply familiar to his audience: sacrifice, and what it truly means. For the Jewish people, sacrifice was central to worship, so it’s important to pause and consider what kind of sacrifice God is actually looking for. Paul makes it clear that God isn’t interested in sacrifice for the sake of appearance or ritual. He’s not looking for moments where we give up time or resources simply because others are watching, or because we expect something in return. Instead, He’s looking for sacrifices that are rooted in genuine worship, goodness, and generosity, regardless of how they are seen. What also stands out to me in Hebrews is that these sacrifices are not something we offer through our own merit. They are made through Jesus, who has already covered us by His sacrifice, and it’s only because of the sheer power of that truth that anything we offer holds meaning. Jesus often challenged the Pharisees for being so focused on WHAT was being sacrificed that they overlooked WHO was around them, the very people who could have been blessed by what they had. Paul is helping reframe sacrifice to its truest form: praising God, doing good, and sharing what we have. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God, not because they earn anything, but because they reflect a transformed and circumcised heart.
Today’s quest
Choose one small act of good and offer it to God as an act of worship.
Your reflection
“I would love to get into a habit of continually praising the Lord! It is a good reminder that this act is a sacrifice and takes intentionality and devotion to develop this ‘habit’. But a wonderful and glorious habit to have, I’ve noticed that when I’m in praise of the Lord how much it positively affects me - my emotional and mental outlook especially! Even physically - feeling rejuvenated and light. That’s not to say I don’t have low moments where choosing to praise feels very hard! Life comes with both but praising God regardless of circumstance is what we are called to do. I will try to be more intentional in developing this! ”