And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.

Leviticus 22:29 ESV

This verse stood out to me, in particular that a sacrifice of thanksgiving could be rejected. We’re to give thanks at all times for all things ( Eph. 5:20) and give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thess. 5:18). How could it ever possibly be wrong?

A sacrifice is something of value given up because you see something else as having more value.

This is a sacrifice of thanksgiving. When is thanksgiving a sacrifice? When we’re seeing the value in right perspective.

Giving thanks isn’t a token thing we do rotely before meals or something we toss off when something good happens.

We need to give something of value. We need to stop as a deliberate choice, whether in joy or in sorrow, and give our time and attention to the Lord and truly give thanks with a heart of humble gratitude.