The Lost Need to See Your Joy
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By John Piper About Joy
Audio Transcript
Jesus said “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11). “Rejoice in that day” (Luke 6:23). That day. Not the next day. “Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.”
Do you think it’s random that the next thing out of his mouth was, “You’re the salt of the earth. You’re the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14). That’s not random. I think what he means is: The taste of life that people are aching for is to see a person who’s happy in the midst of pain.
People want to see somebody who have something so deep, so unshakeable, so indomitable and invincible that when all around their soul gives way, their joy doesn’t give way. That would be so salty. So bright. That would be so bright, it would look like the glory of God on earth. I think that’s what he means.
So the picture of Jesus is: Blessed are you when men persecute you and revile you. They did that to the prophets and they’re going to do it to any faithful Christian. Your reward is great in heaven, and so let that truth stream back into the moment and rejoice in hope, and you will be the salt of the earth. You will be what the world needs. You will be what the taste buds of their soul are longing for even if they don’t know it.
