Posts Tagged ‘Dictionary Definition’

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name” Hebrews 13:15

The part of praise that we will look at today is thanks. Webster’s dictionary definition of thanks: “an expression of gratitude; not as a result of any benefit conferred; the act of giving thanks; a public acknowledgement or celebration of divine goodness”. How remarkable is that definition? In our western culture, we say, “thank you” when someone does or says something kind. If you read the definition again, that is not what this word “thanks” means.

Giving thanks to the Lord is thanking Him “just because”, not for any reason, gift, answered prayer, or easy day.

The word “praise” in Hebrews 13:15 (above) is translated from the Greek word Ainesis, which means, “a thank offering”. Why that word was translated to the word praise, I will never know. Read it again with the word “thanks” in place of the word “praise”. That is the way it was intended by the writer. Praise is not a sacrifice of the lips for most believers, is it? But… thanks for nothing is a sacrifice. Doesn’t that make more sense? Of course, it does! It was the way we were to hear it. How easy is it for you to give thanks when your prayers have not been answered the way you prayed? When you have prayed for healing and it hasn’t happened yet? “That” is sacrifice of lips!

There are other derivatives of the word Ainesis which also explain the word praise and we will briefly look at those: 1) Aineo: “to sing your praises”, Luke 19:37, Romans 15:1, Luke 2:13, 2:20, 24:53; 2) Ainos: “laudatory discourse” (thanking out loud), Matthew 21:16, Luke 18:43. All of those verses have the word praise, but are really saying thanks. Read them and insert the word “thanks” in place of the word “praise” today. What a revelation that will be for you!

The word is a deep mine and the deeper you go the greater the treasure will be. Don’t be apprehensive about digging deep into the word. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge”, don’t let that be your weakness. We need to be strong and digging makes you very strong!

“Thank you Lord for being who you are, help me to thank you for all things even when I don’t see anything to be thankful for. You are worthy of praise (ainesis-thanks) just because…”

Thankful…
Kathy