Acceptable

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Romans 12:1 NLT

Who said it would be easy? Did someone say that being a Christian would make life a breeze? What part of "sacrifice" do we not understand?

Oh, we know Christ gave His life as the once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins. We know that. Right? Do we think it was easy because He is the Christ? Do we think it was easy because He is God's Son and He knew He would be resurrected and come back to life?  Do we think He was being glib when He said, No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily...? (John 10:18) Do we remember how Scripture tells us, He fell on His face and prayed, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me..." (Matthew 26:39 NKJV)

Sacrifice is not convenient. It's not fun. It means we're going to be denied something we really want or forfeit something we already have or give up something we value highly. And it may very well involve some sort of pain and/or suffering.

Were the stripes on His back convenient for Him? And yet He took them willingly to pay for our healing and our peace. Isaiah 53:5 reads, But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Did anyone hear Him whine about it? Is there anywhere that it's recorded, I gotta do this for them and that for them 'cause God is telling me I have to...I have no choice... 
Listen, it's not an acceptable sacrifice if we're whining about it.

We always have a choice, as did Jesus. He chose to live a life of sacrifice. He could have chosen convenience. He could have called 10,000 angels, but He chose to do the Father's will. Can we do any less and still be acceptable?

Prayer:

Father,
        Let our lives be a sweet-smelling sacrifice of praise and worship. By Your Grace, in Your Strength, not ours, help us to be all You've called us to be. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.