The Dangerous Duty of Delight
Overview
“The radical pursuit of joy in God may cost you your life.… But it will be worth it.” The world has an inconsolable longing, which it tries to satisfy with anything but God. Scenic vacations. Sexual exploits. Ascetic rigors. Managerial excellence. Sports extravaganzas. We have turned our back to the breathtaking beauty of God and fallen in love with our shadow. To delight in the Light is a dangerous duty indeed. It may cost you your friends. It may cost you your reputation. It may cost you your life. But it will be worth it. Because the steadfast love of the Lord is better than life (Psalm 63:3)! In 96-pages, John Piper distills the essence of “Christian Hedonism.” This is not a word game. It is the Biblical reality of the glorified God and the satisfied soul. We invite you to come and feast. The author’s now classic ideas are presented here in an accessible size that will allow readers to absorb and apply them quickly—leading them to a dramatically different and joyful experience of their faith. Filled with biblical reasons for living a life of celebration, this life-changing read helps people discover not only why but how to delight more fully in the Lord. John Piper turns your heart towards the one true Object of human desire—God. He shows how fulfilling your duty to delight in Him can change your attitude toward worship, toward marriage, toward material goods, toward your very mission and purpose on earth! Join him on a journey from desperate desire to infinite delight!
Wait!! You can get a better deal by purchasing this resource in the John Piper Collection.
Top Highlights
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (Page 20)
“Love is the overflow and expansion of joy in God, which gladly meets the needs of others.” (Page 44)
“Saint Augustine, who, in the year 386, found his freedom from lust and lechery in the superior pleasures of God. ‘How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!… You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure.’” (Page 12)
“I am often asked what a Christian should do if the cheerfulness of obedience is not there. It’s a good question. My answer is not to simply get on with your duty because feelings don’t matter. They do! My answer has three steps. First, confess the sin of joylessness. (‘My heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I,’ Psalm 61:2.) Acknowledge the coldness of your heart. Don’t say that it doesn’t matter how you feel. Second, pray earnestly that God would restore the joy of obedience. (‘I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart,’ Psalm 40:8.) Third, go ahead and do the outward dimension of your duty in the hope that the doing will rekindle the delight.” (Pages 30–31)
“He created you so that you might spend eternity glorifying Him by enjoying Him forever.” (Page 20)
- Title: The Dangerous Duty of Delight: The Glorified God and the Satisfied Soul
- Author: John Piper
- Publisher: Multnomah
- Print Publication Date: 2001
- Logos Release Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: God (Christianity) › Worship and love
- Resource ID: LLS:DNGDUTYDEL
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-02-12T07:56:46Z
John Piper (b. 1946) is a widely respected theologian and bestselling author who serves as founder and lead teacher at Desiring God and is chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, Piper served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. He has authored more than 50 books, and more than 30 years of his preaching and writing are available free of charge at desiringGod.org. Piper resides in the Minneapolis area with his wife of 51 years, and has five children and 14 grandchildren.
Piper attended Wheaton College where he majored in literature and minored in philosophy. He completed his Bachelor of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he studied under Dr. Daniel Fuller. Piper received his Doctorate in Theology from the University of Munich and taught biblical studies for six years at Bethel College.
In 1994, Piper founded Desiring God Ministries, which provides Piper’s sermons, articles, and information on titles he has authored. One of his bestsellers, Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, prompted the name of the ministry.
Several of Piper’s books have been Evangelical Christian Publishers Association Christian book award winners including What Jesus Demands from the World, Pierced by the Word, and God’s Passion for His Glory. The Crossway John Piper Collection (39 vols.) includes 39 titles from Piper, including Love Your Enemies and A Hunger for God. His preaching ministry of more than 30 years is available in the John Piper Sermon Archive (1980–2014).
Hear how Piper uses Logos for his Bible Study.
