August 17, 2017
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Corinthians 7 (ESV)
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear 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 with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us… Continue Reading
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Paul was at one time grieved that he had caused the church at Corinth pain by what he wrote to them. But now, he rejoices because their grief was a godly grief…and ultimately led to repentance. I want to remember this.
Interesting how strong his feelings are for this group of people
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death
What a great chapter revealing Paul’s deep concern for the Corinthians. How important it is for us to have the courage to tell people hard things, but also have the compassion to make those hard things about their repentance and growth rather than about reacting to our offense or showing ourselves to be right. And one of the benefits of getting involved in messy things is the joy that comes when things turn out where God would have them.
It is also important to recognize the importance of godly sorrow in our lives as well as recognizing the difference between godly sorrow and condemnation (as I mentioned in today’s message). Godly sorrow is about forsaking relationship and the truth and power that God provides for victory. Godly sorrow is couched in the grace and unconditional love of God. Condemnation focuses us on works and punishment. It denies the power of the cross and puts me on a self improvement program to earn my way back to God. we just need to make sure we don’t trample or misuse that grace as well. And that is what godly sorrow protects us from. May we all seek to grow in our understanding and application of it to our lives!