Promise for Today Favorite - 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.

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.

Let's Be Reasonable

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1 NKJV

I had a conversation with a friend who mentioned the struggles he is experiencing with a particular project and how it seemed to be ongoing. He presented it laughingly, but it was obvious he wanted some relief. He said his wife told him God was developing patience in his life like He did with Peter. His response was, "I told her, Peter didn't have to deal with this..."

I quipped, "You're right, he didn't. But he was inverted and crucified, so I guess we could get an upside-down crucifixion arranged for you, if you think that would be easier to deal with." Let's just say I'm not the author of the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

According to our Scripture for today, we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice... Wait a minute. Doesn't sacrifice include fire and burning meat? Let's face it. We all like grilling, but not if WE are the sacrifice. When God puts me to the test and I make a comment like my friend made, my sister asks, "Hmmm... do I smell barbecue? Something's burning..." Clearly, SHE is not the author, either, of How to Win Friends and Influence People.

The Bible tells us we are to be holy and acceptable to God. How? How do we do that - holy AND acceptable? Scripture tells us in Romans 14:17-18, ... for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Notice this is not a multiple choice statement. It does not read righteousness OR peace OR joy in the Holy Spirit. It's a package deal. Holy AND acceptable! Righteousness AND peace AND joy in the Holy Spirit! How in the world do we do that?!?

By the mercies of God. Now, THAT's reasonable...

Prayer:

Father,
           By Your mercies, which are new every morning, we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto You, which is our reasonable service. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

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.