Author- Sam Storms
Publisher-Navpress
ISBN-1-57683-188-4
This book draws heavily upon the writings of Jonathan Edwards and John Piper. It is a readable and refreshing view of the path of spiritual transformation. All is written from the perspective of enjoying God. The power of seeking pleasure in God alone and in that which pleases Him and that power loosing the soul from seeking satisfaction from sinful pleasures of every kind. The ability to resist the seductive appeals of the world is best rooted in the realization that God delights in our company and that our ever-increasing pleasure is to be found in Him. Basic to humanity is the pursuit of pleasure along with the desire for personal happiness. In Christian circles many embrace the idea that the pursuit of these things and obedience to the will of God are mutually exclusive. Sam Storms shows conclusively that this is not the case. The core of this book is that both temporal and eternal pleasures are to be found only in the arms of the lover of our souls, the Lord Jesus. It contains an appeal to the reader to say no to sin on the basis that we are able to discover something infinitely better, immeasurably more pleasing and incomparably more exciting in the reality of a living relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit. It would be beneficial to every pastor and person engaged in counseling to read this book and others presenting a similar message. It is grace filled and liberating. “At Your right hand are pleasures for evermore” is the message. Lasting pleasures are not to be found elsewhere. A single reading of a book like this, is insufficient, others by John Piper should be read in conjunction with it. Legalism and the doing of Christian duty is in the atmosphere of the churches, albeit almost unconsciously. It pollutes the life and message of the gospel and robs us all of the riches of His grace. This book covers quite a large range of subjects, dealing with them from the perspective of finding pleasure in the Love that God has for us, the growing consciousness of which draws us away from yielding to temptation and entering in to sin. Perhaps for some, this book will be an initiation into a new understanding concerning the path to holiness. The treatment the writer gives to godly pleasure helps to purge the mind and heart from lesser things. One of the best chapters of the book is on the subject of worship and is called ‘feasting on God’. Here is a manual to lead us to a life of profound happiness in doing the will of God and enjoying Him.
