Godly Sorrow

Thursday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 28-29
NT: 2 Corinthians 7
W&W: Ecclesiastes 4

Friday’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Jeremiah 30-31
NT: 2 Corinthians 8
W&W: Ecclesiastes 5

Today’s Reflection:

Some thoughts from Thursday’s New Testament reading:

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians 7.10). Because of that we can say with Paul – of ourselves or our friends – “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it… I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended…” (vv. 8-9, emphasis mine).

Godly sorrow should lead to:

• Repentance over past failures
• Earnestness and eagerness to do what is right
• Indignation with yourself leaving a bad impression on others
• Alarm that you fell into sin
• Longing to be restored to full communion with Christ and his Church
• Concern that your behavior hurt others or led them astray
• Readiness to do whatever it takes to make it right
• A renewed sense of devotion to living a holy and uplifting life
• A desire to be encouraged in yourself and an encourager to others.

If your feelings of sorrow become nursed hurts or if they result in bitterness toward another, or if they lead you to “campaign” to make it right, or if they cause defensiveness, or if they make you want to strike out at or vilify others, then you are not experiencing Godly sorrow, but worldly, death-producing sorrow.

Godly sorrow honors God and seeks genuine reconciliation through humility and repentance. Otherwise the sorrow is just a cover up for ungodly feelings. God doesn’t want us to dwell in sorrow, but through it to get to a place of joy and peace and victory. Sorrow is indispensable in that process, but it is the means, not the end of the journey.

This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Romans 3.21: But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.