Sacrifice Established on the Gospel

Naomi Middleton

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"Sacrifice is not a threat to living life to the fullest; rather, it is the doorway to it."

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I grew up as the oldest of five kids and began babysitting at twelve. By sixth grade, I was teaching kids' classes at our church, and my first full-time job was as a preschool teacher. So, when I found out I was pregnant with our first child, I thought I was well-prepared for motherhood.

I knew it would be challenging, but I thought it would be a relatively straightforward new challenge. After all, how hard could it be to change diapers, make lunches, and schedule playdates? But the moment I went into labor, I realized motherhood was going to be much harder than I anticipated. It was going to require more energy than I had to give, and it was going to rob me of some things I had previously enjoyed. It wasn’t always going to go as I had planned.

A few weeks after Brayden was born, I found myself awake in the middle of the night, trying to get him back to sleep. Exhausted and frustrated, I thought, “Why does something so good have to be so hard?” Now that Brayden is a toddler, parenting hasn’t become any easier. In fact, some days I long for the simplicity of the newborn days, without toddler meltdowns or arguments over what shirt to wear.

We live in a world that tries to avoid sacrifice and hardship. We’ve built our lives around convenience and comfort. If something proves more difficult than we expected, we often think we must be doing it wrong. And when we’re faced with difficult personal sacrifices, it’s easy to grow bitter and frustrated, feeling like a victim.

Yet, as I’ve navigated the various sacrifices required by motherhood and life in general, I’ve slowly come to realize that life comes through sacrifice. We don’t have to face sacrifice with a "grin and bear it" mentality. Nor should we avoid sacrifice at all costs. We can have hope—and even joy—amid sacrifice because we know there’s something greater on the other side. When we face moments or seasons of sacrifice, we can hold onto the hope that life comes through sacrifice. Here are some ways we can understand sacrifice in light of the gospel.

Sacrifice Is an Act of Love (Creation)

When we look at certain topics in light of the gospel, it is fairly easy to understand, at least in a general sense, their created purpose. However, there are other topics that are much more difficult and nuanced. Sacrifice is definitely one of them. Because of the pain and brokenness that often surrounds sacrifice, it is hard to comprehend a perfect world in which sacrifice would be a part of it. In our world today, much of the sacrifice we see and experience is driven by brokenness, pain, or suffering.

At the core of sacrifice and an act of love. It is the willingness to give something up for the sake of another. As 1 John 1:9 says, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus' sacrifice is a powerful example of true love. It wasn’t just about a feeling, but a conscious choice to endure suffering and even death for the good of others. His love teaches us that real love requires sacrifice. It’s not about convenience or comfort; it’s about giving up something for the benefit of another. A love that wasn't based on merit or deserving.

Biblical sacrifice isn’t just about giving something up or doing something uncomfortable. It’s a decision to put the needs of others before our own. Gospel-centered sacrifice is done for the sake of another—it’s a selfless act of love, not seeking anything in return. When we understand Christ’s sacrifice for us, it changes how we view sacrifice in our own lives. We begin to see it as an opportunity to reflect His love to others.

Sacrifice is the Death of Us (Fall)

As we mentioned above, because of the fall, the sacrifice we make in the moment often feels like a death. Parenthood is one of the clearest examples of where this type of sacrifice plays out. In many ways, becoming a parent feels like the death of our previous selves—the death of the freedom we once had, the time we could dedicate to personal pursuits, and the ability to enjoy the things we used to without worry or interruption. It’s a profound and sometimes painful transformation.

When we step into the role of a parent, we are forced to lay down our will, our desires, and even our identity in some ways. We are constantly called to die to ourselves—to give up our personal plans and priorities in order to care for our children. These kinds of sacrifices were created to be joyful and life-giving moments of love. However, the fall has caused each of us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. As a result, dying to ourselves becomes a painful, rather than joyful, process.

Sacrifice Proclaims the Gospel (Redemption)

There are two key ways that God redeems sacrifices. First, in Romans 12:1, Paul urges believers to "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." At first glance, we might interpret this as simply performing sacrificial acts, like serving at church or going on mission trips—things that are indeed good and valuable. But Paul is not just calling us to perform acts of sacrifice; he’s highlighting the need for a deeper heart posture—a willingness to surrender our desires, ambitions, and plans to God. Often, the sacrifice we make in the moment feels like a death, but in reality, it is through these sacrifices that we are putting to death our old selves. Through the death of our old selves and the surrender of our desires, we are transformed and grow closer to God, finding a deeper, richer life than we could have imagined. Yes, the fall has made sacrifices difficult, but God wants to use these moments to shape us, leading us to greater places of life and holiness—which is true spiritual worship.

Secondly, sacrifice is a powerful tool that God uses to help us proclaim the gospel and participate in His redemptive work. In Colossians 1:24, Paul says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church.” Paul doesn’t mean that Christ’s suffering was incomplete or insufficient for salvation. Rather, he’s explaining that his own sacrifices serve as a means to proclaim the gospel. When we sacrifice for others, we are tangibly illustrating Christ’s suffering. By sacrificing our sleep for our children, we are proclaiming the gospel to them. When we give our energy to our spouse, we are reflecting the gospel to them.

In the midst of our sacrifices, we hold onto the hope that life comes through these acts of love, submission, and service. While sacrifice can be difficult, it is through these moments of selflessness that we experience true life. By giving of ourselves, we are not only transformed but also have the opportunity to transform those around us. Sacrifice is not a threat to living life to the fullest; rather, it is the doorway to it.