LEARNING DAILY

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

I have been reading and doing a little thinking about the Book of Judges this week. There is a consistent theme in that book about the people of Israel doing evil in the sight of the Lord and God allowing other people in the land of Cannan to come against them. After time, the people cry out to God, who then raises up a judge to deliver them. Peace is in the land until the judge dies; the people do evil in the sight of the Lord.

I find this cycle to be familiar to my life.  Perhaps, you do as well. Jesus said that walking on the narrow way would be difficult – He was right. This world is full of temptations, difficulties, people who do not believe in or want to live like the Lord has instructed. There is constant bombardment of an ungodly lifestyle, rumors and fear of warfare constantly in the news, increasing pestilence, and crazy, dangerous weather daily. There are the daily failures that every Believer commits.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the great sorrow they experienced over their sinfulness. He rejoiced over their pain because it led to their repentance, a turning away from their sinful walk to go in the direction that the Lord demanded they walk – from the broad way to the narrow way. Paul wrote that there were two types of sorrow. One leads to repentance and one that is only sorry for the consequences of their sin which result in judgment. Godly sorrow or grief hurts. Worldly sorrow leads only to death. For example, Peter’s sorrow over his denial of Jesus led him to weep bitterly (Matthew 26:74-75). David’s sins led him to plead for God’s mercy and “flood his bed with tears” (Psalm 6:6). Paul’s description of his own battles with sin are found in Romans 7:24-25.

2 Corinthians 7:10 is about the transformative power of genuine repentance and sorrow on one’s actions (Michael Johnson). This repentance is about making a conscious decision to turn away from sin and making bad choices and seeking God’s mercy and grace. It is crying out to God like the people of Israel acknowledging their sinful ways, their mistakes, their shortcomings. It is not just feeling sorry for one’s actions! It is seeking to have a change of heart and changing one’s actions.

This verse is a reminder that Believers can experience a tremendous change in their lives through godly sorrow that leads to spiritual growth and leads sinners to salvation. True repentance brings a sense of peace and freedom without the burden of regret. It comes as one seeks forgiveness with a genuine heart and the power of godly sorrow. That is the first step toward a real change!