Without This One Thing, Joy is Impossible

Thank you, Pastor John Piper.  Now I know why.

While writing the first draft of this book, I called my eight-five-year-old father and said, "Daddy, I am writing a book on how to fight for joy.  What one thing comes to your mind from sixty years of ministry as to what Christians could do to increase their joy?"  Almost without hesitation he said, "Share their faith."  Joy in Christ thrives on being shared.  That is the essence of Christian joy: It overflows or dies.

Millions of Christians live with a low-grade feeling of guilt for not openly commending Christ by their words.  They try to persuade themselves that keeping their noses morally clean is a witness to Christ.  The problem with this notion is that millions of unbelievers keep their noses morally clean.  Christians will — and should — continue to feel bad for not sharing their faith.  Christ is the most glorious person in the world.  His salvation is infinitely valuable.  Everyone in the world needs it.  Horrific consequences await those who do not believe on Jesus.  By grace alone we have seen him, believe on him, and now love him.  Therefore, not to speak of Christ unbelievers, and not to care about our city or the unreached peoples of the world is so contradictory to Christ's worth, people's plight, and our joy that it sends the quiet message to our souls day after day: This Savior and this salvation do not mean to you what you say they do.  To maintain great joy in Christ in the face of that persistent message is impossible.

When the Darkness Will Not Lift by John Piper.  pg. 64-65

1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

I Love to Tell the Story

I love to tell the story of unseen things above Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love I love to tell the story because I know ‘tis true It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do

I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory To tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love

I love to tell the story, ‘tis pleasant to repeat What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet I love to tell the story, for some have never heard The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song ‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long

“I Love to Tell the Story,” Words And Music By Arabella Catherine Hankey and William Gustavus Fischer