As part of our training to become priests of God in His spiritual priesthood, we are called to offer up spiritual sacrifices, which are acts of giving up our time and effort in ways that are pleasing to Him. A spiritual sacrifice must be offered with an attitude of obedience, humility, and reverence to be acceptable to God. Praising God is a vital spiritual sacrifice, as we are encouraged to continually offer the sacrifices of praise, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name through Jesus Christ. This sincere offering of praise is an acceptable sacrifice that pleases Him and helps us stay focused on God as a form of spiritual worship. Praise, as a spiritual sacrifice, is a specific duty for us as a royal priesthood in training. We are a chosen generation, a holy nation, His own special people, called to proclaim the virtues and excellencies of Him who brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Praise can be expressed in various forms, such as singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, speaking, or praying, provided they are grounded in spiritual truths and presented with humility. We have the opportunity to praise God in song each week during worship, designed to foster a joyful, thankful, and humble frame of mind, preparing us for instruction. We are to praise God continually, not by rote but with sincerity, for His innumerable attributes and characteristics, such as His purity, righteousness, and the beauty of holiness. We can praise Him for His marvelous works in creation, His power to sustain both the physical and spiritual realms, His uniqueness, faithfulness, glorious name, goodness, and involvement in His plan of salvation. Praising Him for revealing His Word and for His righteousness and graciousness in all His works is also a spiritual sacrifice. The more we communicate with God, the more we recognize His attributes, but separation from Him due to sin or neglect makes it difficult to appreciate these qualities. Our mental attitude is critical in offering acceptable praise; without the right attitude, our praises are unacceptable to the Almighty, yet acceptable sacrifices of praise are pleasing to Him. Thus, our duty as a royal priesthood is to continually offer the spiritual sacrifice of praise to God, acknowledging His attributes and staying focused on Him through this act of spiritual worship.

Brethren, the Feast of Tabernacles is a sacred time for us to examine our spiritual commitment to the Almighty God. We come to the place where He has chosen to put His name, bringing our second tithe, as a symbol of utterly destroying the false gods and altars within ourselves. This week, we must carefully inventory every aspect of our lives over the past year to see if our dedication matches His blessings. Are we holding back from total, 100% commitment? Have we compromised with the world to maintain peace, run close to the edge without crossing over, focused on others instead of God, or expected blessings without full obedience? God separates us from the world during this Feast to recount His commitment to us and to His purpose. We are to share our personal blessings and challenges with one another, bolstering our faith by recounting the miracles and difficulties of the past year. The sacrifices we offer during the Feast of Tabernacles, more than all other holy days combined, come from the blessings He has given us. We eat, drink, and rejoice together with purpose, spending this time sharing experiences with God and each other to strengthen our total commitment to His plan. As we go through this precious time at the Feast, we must meticulously examine and renew our dedication, trembling at God's Word. This is a feast of words, of sermons, songs of praise, and listening to the Great God as He gives us our marching orders. We must be fully committed, or we risk spiritual death. God has set us apart for His service, numbering us for specific responsibilities, and at the end of this Feast, on the Last Great Day, He commands a blessing to be pronounced upon His people, affirming His commitment to those who are separated from this world and devoted to Him. Let us use this time wisely to ensure we are worthy of this blessing.