The greatest act of love that was ever performed was performed in pursuit of joy,

so that anybody that tells me you must abandon the quest for joy in order to be a virtuous person has got to do a lot of overcoming of texts

like this and of the example of Jesus.

So what should motivate our deeds of love?

In this episode of light and truth,

John Piper turns to Hebrews 12, verse 2,

to demonstrate how joy in God fuels sacrificial love.

This sermon was originally given

at Trinity Baptist Church in Wheaton, Illinois,

on September 20th, 1988.

Hebrews 10, 32 to 34. This is very powerful. If you would ask me what book in the New Testament

seems to capture this thing you're calling Christian hedonism best, I would say the book of Hebrews.

Let me show you. Hebrews 10 32 following recall the former days when after you were enlightened you endured a hard

struggle with suffering sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction and sometimes being

partners with those so treated for you had compassion on the prisoners

and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property

since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession

and an abiding one.

Now, do you capture what's going on here?

Here is a group of Christians that are being persecuted

and some have been arrested and put in prison.

Those who were not arrested have gone underground and are faced with a question.

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