Sometimes, we make sacrifices on altars that do not exist. We can make a sacrifice when a blessing was God’s actual intent.

Some of us need to be set free from thinking our entire experience with God is a sacrifice. Life does include sacrifice, but Jesus came and made the ultimate sacrifice so we could experience joy—even in our suffering. Jesus was obedient because he saw the joy set before him. This kind of joy is always greater than the pain of sacrifice. 

We can look ahead and think we are called to build altars for a continuous life of sacrifice and not see the places of celebration. Each altar we construct for a personal sacrifice should be followed by an expression of joy dedicated to celebrating the victory of that sacrifice. Jesus went forward toward the Cross because of the joy set before him. 

(An excerpt from the book, A Good Place)