When I Don't Desire God,by John Piper, has been on my reading list for a while now. I must admit that I go through his books pretty slowly; it takes me a while to really digest what it is he is saying, and I always find it very rewarding and thought-provoking.
I just have to remind myself of the benefits as I snail through!
Here are a few gems that I have found as I read the chapter on, "Fighting for Joy Like a Justified Sinner". This is a wonderful read, and I hope you enjoy the following bits as I have.
Christ himself connected joy and the cross in his own soul.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us, "For the joy set before him [he] endured the cross."
So in his own heart the unshakable hope of joy with the Father sustained him through his final suffering. He prayed the night before he died,
"Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory
that I had with you before the world existed" (John 17:5)
~John Piper, When I Don't Desire God
I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse,
for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, "The same yesterday, today, and forever." Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed. I was loosed from my afflictions and irons;
my temptations also fled away; so that from that time those dreadful scriptures of God [about the unforgivable sin] left off to trouble me;
now went I also home rejoicing for the grace and love of God.
~John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
3 comments:
The end of the scripture that you posted was one that I recently posted on my blog as well! What a blessing to be reminded of how glorious our King is!
Missing y'all! :)
Hannah A.
John's God is the Gospel is also an excellent, excellent work.
By the way, loved the classical music as I took in your post.
Brad
Hi Carolina!
This has absolutely nothing to do with this post but I don't know how to communicate with you any other way.
We were at a friend's house last night and they receive the "Virtuous Daughters" magazine.
I was just flipping through one of them and I just "happened" to come accross your article. I didn't have a chance to read the whole thing but it was so fun to see you, though not in person. Your drawing is so cute!
I'm missing you SO much.
I hope to see you soon after we get back!
Your friend,
Hannah A.
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