The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 2 Corinthians 7:10,
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
This observation comes from Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:10, something my friend Dillard got me to thinking about. Paul refers to his earlier letter that caused sorrow in the believers there. The painful things Paul said in that letter were inspired by God and Paul speaks of his happiness - not that they were made sorrowful, but that their sorrow led these believers to a needful repentance. Paul says, "you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us." Verse 9. Paul further observes, "See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done." Verse 11a.
Here is something that we may not always recognize. We often think it is when we experience those wonderful blessings we receive from God that he is active in our lives. But Paul also speaks of sorrow that God brings into our lives, "Godly sorrow", that may be needed because of something else we have allowed in our lives. I'd like to think I am perfect in all I do, but all you need to do is talk to those close around me to know there are some course changes I need, and at times God brings sorrow to accomplish that. He certainly did so here in the church in Corinth.
Often, a needed repentance is brought about in our lives due to our consciences being pierced. Guilt feelings are not always a bad thing. When directed by God, the appointed fulfillment of feelings of guilt and sorrow is our realization of how we may have strayed, how we may need to seek God and get right with him. Misdirected and misguided guilt can be harmful to us and those around us, ("worldly sorrow brings death"), but godly sorrow brings repentance and provides us motivation to get right with God. God is pursuing us.
We see this in the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world today when it comes to salvation. Jesus told those listening to him that he would send the Holy Spirit after he went to heaven, "When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment..." When the gospel is properly shared with someone, the Holy Spirit brings to that person's heart the realization of his guilt before God. Those feelings of guilt can turn to either "godly sorrow" and repentance or to rejection of the gospel message and the Lord. Although the choice is ours, God is pursuing us. Here I see the intersection of the grace of God and our own free will. God draws us to himself, and yet, we all will have to make our own choice as he draws us. Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. Also, as John tells us, "to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12.
Another place comes to mind, Romans 2:4, "do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" When someone recognizes God's kindness, forbearance and patience against the backdrop of their own sinful condition (the condition Paul is here referring to in this context), it should lead to repentance. It doesn't always turn out that way, as we all know. Often many refuse to recognize their own sinfulness. But when they do, the resulting sorrow, particularly cast against God's patience with them can and does lead to repentance. God is pursuing us.
I see this "godly sorrow" Paul speaks of as something that can be active in the unbeliever as well as the believer that needs a change of direction in their lives. I'm sure there are differences between the two, but God knows our hearts and he knows how to touch us in a way that can be very meaningful and effective. God can bless like no other and he can hurt us like no other. The difference between "godly sorrow" and the sorrow the world brings into our lives is that godly sorrow brings repentance and salvation with no regret, whereas worldly sorrow just brings sorrow, as Paul says, "death".
Here is something that speaks to God's reach for us, his pursuit of us. He is not merely satisfied with arms folded and willing to accept those who reach out to him. He pursues us, he reaches out to us, he brings things into our lives to draw us to himself. Are we not saved? His Holy Spirit convicts us of our need for salvation as we recognize the sin in our lives. Are we believers headed in the wrong direction? Again, his Holy Spirit brings us conviction, "godly sorrow". God is pursuing us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
This observation comes from Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:10, something my friend Dillard got me to thinking about. Paul refers to his earlier letter that caused sorrow in the believers there. The painful things Paul said in that letter were inspired by God and Paul speaks of his happiness - not that they were made sorrowful, but that their sorrow led these believers to a needful repentance. Paul says, "you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us." Verse 9. Paul further observes, "See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done." Verse 11a.
Here is something that we may not always recognize. We often think it is when we experience those wonderful blessings we receive from God that he is active in our lives. But Paul also speaks of sorrow that God brings into our lives, "Godly sorrow", that may be needed because of something else we have allowed in our lives. I'd like to think I am perfect in all I do, but all you need to do is talk to those close around me to know there are some course changes I need, and at times God brings sorrow to accomplish that. He certainly did so here in the church in Corinth.
Often, a needed repentance is brought about in our lives due to our consciences being pierced. Guilt feelings are not always a bad thing. When directed by God, the appointed fulfillment of feelings of guilt and sorrow is our realization of how we may have strayed, how we may need to seek God and get right with him. Misdirected and misguided guilt can be harmful to us and those around us, ("worldly sorrow brings death"), but godly sorrow brings repentance and provides us motivation to get right with God. God is pursuing us.
We see this in the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world today when it comes to salvation. Jesus told those listening to him that he would send the Holy Spirit after he went to heaven, "When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment..." When the gospel is properly shared with someone, the Holy Spirit brings to that person's heart the realization of his guilt before God. Those feelings of guilt can turn to either "godly sorrow" and repentance or to rejection of the gospel message and the Lord. Although the choice is ours, God is pursuing us. Here I see the intersection of the grace of God and our own free will. God draws us to himself, and yet, we all will have to make our own choice as he draws us. Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32. Also, as John tells us, "to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12.
Another place comes to mind, Romans 2:4, "do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" When someone recognizes God's kindness, forbearance and patience against the backdrop of their own sinful condition (the condition Paul is here referring to in this context), it should lead to repentance. It doesn't always turn out that way, as we all know. Often many refuse to recognize their own sinfulness. But when they do, the resulting sorrow, particularly cast against God's patience with them can and does lead to repentance. God is pursuing us.
I see this "godly sorrow" Paul speaks of as something that can be active in the unbeliever as well as the believer that needs a change of direction in their lives. I'm sure there are differences between the two, but God knows our hearts and he knows how to touch us in a way that can be very meaningful and effective. God can bless like no other and he can hurt us like no other. The difference between "godly sorrow" and the sorrow the world brings into our lives is that godly sorrow brings repentance and salvation with no regret, whereas worldly sorrow just brings sorrow, as Paul says, "death".
Here is something that speaks to God's reach for us, his pursuit of us. He is not merely satisfied with arms folded and willing to accept those who reach out to him. He pursues us, he reaches out to us, he brings things into our lives to draw us to himself. Are we not saved? His Holy Spirit convicts us of our need for salvation as we recognize the sin in our lives. Are we believers headed in the wrong direction? Again, his Holy Spirit brings us conviction, "godly sorrow". God is pursuing us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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