The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Corinthians 7:9b-11a,
"You became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 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."
As our Creator God, our heavenly Father's touch brings life, vitality, renewal and refreshment. Where it seems with some – that their presence brings diminishment, discord, disharmony, destruction and death – our God is the Lord of life and light! Where he goes it is as if winter turns to spring, what is dead and decaying turns to rejuvenated life, that which is wilted and stilted turns to vibrancy, excitement and growth!
This passage brings this thought to my mind, "worldly sorrow brings death" but "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation". Salvation is escape from God's judgment of us for our sin and rebellion against him, salvation takes us from darkness to light, salvation brings us from death to eternal abundant life! These Corinthian believers experienced God's salvation. As believers, the sorrow they experienced due to sin in their midst led them to light and life: action!
I'm reminded of Psalm 1 where I read that those who draw close to the Lord, those who delight in Scripture and meditate on it day and night are like a "tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." That is how it is with our wonderful God. Those who draw near to him come to life!
The Corinthian believers experienced sorrow, a "godly sorrow" and as debilitating as sorrow is, this sorrow, because it was at the hand of God, resulted in the fruit of vitality. Earnestness, eagerness, longing and concern, a readiness to see justice done. With an indignation and alarm - sorrow, which often stifles and stultifies, had its effect of springing these believers into action!
I think this says something about our God!
As our Creator God, our heavenly Father's touch brings life, vitality, renewal and refreshment. Where it seems with some – that their presence brings diminishment, discord, disharmony, destruction and death – our God is the Lord of life and light! Where he goes it is as if winter turns to spring, what is dead and decaying turns to rejuvenated life, that which is wilted and stilted turns to vibrancy, excitement and growth!
This passage brings this thought to my mind, "worldly sorrow brings death" but "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation". Salvation is escape from God's judgment of us for our sin and rebellion against him, salvation takes us from darkness to light, salvation brings us from death to eternal abundant life! These Corinthian believers experienced God's salvation. As believers, the sorrow they experienced due to sin in their midst led them to light and life: action!
I'm reminded of Psalm 1 where I read that those who draw close to the Lord, those who delight in Scripture and meditate on it day and night are like a "tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." That is how it is with our wonderful God. Those who draw near to him come to life!
The Corinthian believers experienced sorrow, a "godly sorrow" and as debilitating as sorrow is, this sorrow, because it was at the hand of God, resulted in the fruit of vitality. Earnestness, eagerness, longing and concern, a readiness to see justice done. With an indignation and alarm - sorrow, which often stifles and stultifies, had its effect of springing these believers into action!
I think this says something about our God!
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment