2 Corinthians 7:10
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV
Nearly every person has some type of sorrow in their life. Most often the sorrow has to do with something that went wrong. This can be someone did something wrong, made a bad choice, or the loss of someone or something. God has created each of us, hardwired us, to be able to experience God given sorrow, which is designed to lead us into real heart felt repentance that results in lasting changes in our hearts and minds. Paul’s point is that being depressed or sorrowful alone doesn’t accomplish any lasting changes in a person. Peter and Judas contrast this perfectly. Peter wept and was sorry that he had denied Jesus, and as a result, he truly repented; on the other side, Judas was sorry and depressed that he betrayed Jesus, but instead of repenting, he tried to turn off the pain by suicide. Real repentance yields a desire to turn away from the sin and restore a personal relationship with God. Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation. So get the picture of Godly grief here. It’s acknowledging sin, it’s feeling sorrow over sin, a grieving over sin. Worldly grief, though, is different. Worldly grief may acknowledge sin, and may even feel sorrow over sin, but it’s not sorrow over hurting someone else and ultimately sorrow over disobeying God. Maybe it’s sorrow over getting caught. Maybe it’s sorrow over the effects of sin in one’s life, the pain that sin causes. But it never really reaches this grief before God. This sorrowful realization that one has offended the Holy God of the universe, disobeyed Him and many times hurt others in the process. In a way that leads to running to the mercy of God, pleading for his forgiveness. And not just for his forgiveness, but for power to turn and not sin again. To live with righteousness and holiness for the glory of God. Paul’s words concerning the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience are directed towards things which are contrary to His holy character and which separate us from Him. And so we can see that not all sorrow is bad. Those who refuse to show sorrow over their sin show that they have no care or regard for their Creator. Only when we have sorrow for our actions can we turn from them and be saved from them. Just as with everyone else we have made mistakes and sinned against God. We have made choices that were wrong, both against others and against God.
When this is revealed to you, ask yourself what are you to do now. You have a choice to make. You can be sorry that you were caught. Or you can be sorry that you sinned against God and strive to change. Make the choice to allow God to change you into a new creation. Make the choice to turn away from ever doing that sin again. Make the choice that brings about salvation, not death!!!
Father thank You for this day and there is so much to learn in Your Word because of our sin and being brought to deep sorrow before God leading us to a repentance without regret and setting us back on the sanctifying pathway. Lord let Your abundant blessings flow over my friend and family today. Lord we pray that we may be ready and willing to be corrected of any wrongdoing and turn from any sinful acts quickly so that we may be returned into fellowship with You and continue along the path of daily sanctification. Lord pray that we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour from this day forward, for His praise and glory. Lord use my friend to be the light of Your love to all today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !!
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