01/03/08

Godly sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Godly sorrow is more than a feeling - like faith, hope and love, it has attendant feelings but is more. Paul distinguishes God-oriented sorrow from world-oriented grief. The first is not sorrow that I got caught; or had to admit I was wrong. It is, rather, sorrow that we have personally slandered the God who loves us. It is more towards not knowing our God better and towards our brothers and sisters in this world who are not yet saved. To see this clearly, makes continuing in sin unthinkable. My sorrow produces confession and contrition - outpourings of my grief as I weep with distraught heart before God. This kind of sorrow (Blessed are those who mourn) goes somewhere it reverses course and regains the track.

Worldly grief, however, does not lead anywhere. It worries over self; regrets embarrassment over getting caught or losing reputation. It circles around self until it festers and rots in a self pitying swamp of depression. Can you see a quality difference between sadness and bitterness? Godly sorry is major sadness over my sinful nature; worldly sorrow is angry bitterness over circumstances. One leads to life with no regret; one stalks us relentlessly through the valley of the shadow of death.


[ Prayer for the Day ]

Blessed God, source of peace and true happiness, bless all who mourn over sin and for being far from You, with the comfort of repentance that leads to life abundant. I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 [AV]
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Matthew 5:4 [AV]
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

James 4:7-10 [AV]
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)