I'm awash in quotes this week from Martin Lloyd-Jones book Spiritual Depression (I am sure I am making Adrian Warnock happy by quoting the Doctor so much). Here's one on the problem of unhappy Christians:
Believing as I do that the greatest need of the hour is a revived and
joyful Church the subject dealt with in these sermons is to me of the
greatest possible importance. Unhappy Christians are, to say the least,
a poor recommendation for the Christian Faith; and there can be little
doubt but that the exuberant joy of the early Christians was one of the
most potent factors in the spread of Christianity.
As I mentioned here I believe that I have been given a calling, and a unique opportunity, to demonstrate the joy that is ours in Christ and I am determined to take joy and happiness very seriously in the future ;-) I'm also committed to reminding my fellow Christians of their duty and opportunity to be joyful in Christ.
HT and thanks to Justin Buzzard for this.
O that God would grant us such infectious joy! How can it be that it is not more common among us? Would that we would be more profoundly and pervasively affected by the gospel--could we possibly then escape such joy?
Posted by: James | January 26, 2009 at 11:40 AM
thank you for that uplifting message
Posted by: nancy | January 26, 2009 at 12:13 PM
There's a lot of truth to the comment of "Unhappy Christians are a poor recommendation for the Christian Faith. They will know we are Christians by our love.... and joy.
Posted by: Donna | January 28, 2009 at 11:55 PM