July 27, 2023 | Be On Mission
Godly Sorrow Brings True Repentance
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7(NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
5 For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 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. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.
Devotional
Recollect that Paul probably wrote at least four letters to the Corinthians:
LETTER #1 (lost) – This is referred to in 1 Corinthians 5:9.
LETTER #2 – This is the letter we know as 1 Corinthians.
LETTER #3 (lost) – Paul referred to this in 2 Corinthians 2:4 and here in 2 Corinthians 7:8, “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.”
LETTER #4 – This is the letter we know as 2 Corinthians, which we are now studying.
That third letter is sometimes called the “severe letter,” for in it Paul unloaded on the Christians in Corinth. Like a text message that has been sent, this letter could not be pulled back after Paul sent it with Titus for hand delivery. Initially, Paul regretted his harsh tone. But upon further reflection, he was thankful that the pain it caused the Corinthian believers led to authentic repentance.
Here in 2 Corinthians 7, Paul even said, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (v. 10). It is better to be brutally honest with someone in order that they may turn their hearts toward God, than to gloss over sin and passively watch them self-destruct.
When has someone been brutally honest with you for your own good? How did you respond initially? Did your response change over time? What did you do? What were the results? What might have happened if they had not chosen to speak into your life? What might have occurred if you refused to listen? Is somebody trying to tell you something right now?
Even harder, who is a brother or sister in Christ that you need to be honest with? What is keeping you from doing it? What might happen if you lovingly confront them? What might happen if you don’t?
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We need each other, painful as it might be.
Poem
Noses
Have you ever noticed
The nose on the proud
All bulbous and red
Thoughts shouting aloud
Eyes small peering down
Insult prayers rollercoasting
Veins bursting red hot
Other people a-roasting?
Have you ever noticed
The nose, humbled one
Pointing not to the sky
But downward, undone
A-sniffling back tears
Red, pinched, snot on the ground
Tears abundant from eyes
Dripping pain, flowing down?
Have you ever noticed
The nose of a child
All pudgy and cute
Tipped up with a smile
Expecting your love
Can’t imagine rejecting
No pretense, no shame
A blessing expecting?
Have you ever noticed
The nose on your face
Which way it is pointing
To love or disgrace
To shame others, self
To snort or to blow
Just what is the message
Your nose will bestow?
