Deep Dive into Desiring God by John Piper - Scripture: Kindling for Christian Hedonism

Christian Hedonism centers on the disciplined, continuous pursuit of maximum happiness in God, founded on the conviction that seeking profound joy in the Lord is the primary way to glorify Him. This endeavor is deemed the "first great and primary business" of the day, which involves focusing on having one's soul happy and the inner man nourished. Neglecting this daily pursuit of joy in God's Word is considered sin, as God intends for the believer's joy to be full.

The essential means for achieving this happiness is the dedicated study and meditation on Holy Scripture, which is explicitly called the "kindling of Christian Hedonism." The Bible, not prayer, is the necessary "food for the inner man." This nourishment is not acquired through simple reading, but through meditation, which involves pondering, considering, and applying the reading to the heart. This practice restores the soul, generates faith, and results in the inner man being sensibly strengthened, leading to a peaceful or happy state before the day's trials begin.

This pursuit of joy is characterized as a "fight" and requires continuous work. The devil prowls with the singular goal of destroying the joy of faith. The Word of God serves as the "sword of the Spirit," the offensive weapon provided by the Holy Spirit for the defense of joy. Victory is assured when the Word abides in the believer, enabling them to wield it against the enemy. If believers go out without carrying this kindling daily, the fire of Christian happiness will be quenched before midmorning.

The Bible's overarching aim is to kindle, not kill, joy and to create hope. It sustains spiritual life by providing life, faith, wisdom, comfort in affliction, and freedom from the slavery of sin. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple and guiding the path toward lasting happiness.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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