The passage I read was 2 Corinthians 7:6-12
You can find that passage here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+7%3A6-12&version=NIV
The verse that most stood out to me:
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
As I reflect:
“In sin, the pleasure passeth, the sorrow remaineth; but in repentance, the sorrow passeth, the pleasure abideth for ever. God soon poureth the oil of gladness into broken hearts.” (Trapp)
Paul in writing this 3rd letter to the Corinthian Christians rejoices not in that they were sorrowful or feeling sorry for their previous actions, but rather he rejoices in that this was a Godly sorrow that drove them to repent.
It hurts my heart to see fellow believers sinning and not counting it sin. But I rejoice when they finally realize that they were living in sin and become sorrowful for that. I rejoice not in their sorrow, but in the fact that the sorrow was a sign of a deeper conviction and because of that they will repent and grow. This is an exciting thing to get to see. I understand where Paul is coming from in this passage. I can parallel some situations in my own life to this.
It can be rough confronting another Christian on the topic of sin in their life, but we are called to do just that. Matthew 18:15 says, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” (this is of course the goal – that your brother would in fact listen to you) Leviticus 19:17 says, “Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.” Luke 17:3 says, “So watch yourselves. ‘If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.” 1 Corinthians 5 goes even deeper on the matter. But the point is that God has given us a responsibility to do just what Paul did. He wrote a letter (in love) that confronted his brothers and sisters in Corinth who sinned so greatly during his last visit that he was left with no choice but to do so. I’m sure his heart was torn on the manner because he didn’t know how the letter would be received. I understand this. I have had Christian brothers and sisters who were in sin and needed to know. But I have always felt uneasy approaching them about it because most people have a certain pride to themselves that make it very hard to accept gentle rebuke. Paul didn’t know if this letter would cause them to grow increasingly upset with him (as his last visit kind of rowled things up a bit) or if they would receive the rebuke and make heartfelt decisions to change for the better; to turn away from sin and run to the Living God.
How relieved and joyful must his heart have been when Titus returned with the wonderful news of the way his message was received. I too would rejoice had a Godly rebuke from me caused a brother or sister to become sorrowful for their sin and repent from it. I would rejoice not in the sorrow, but in what the sorrow brought about. Praise God for turning even the worse of feelings into something useful; a driving force to achieve something so beautiful. That’s my God.
My response to the Lord:
Dear God, thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for driving me to repentance on that dark quite night so long ago. I remember still the weight I carried and how hard it was to stand beneath the pressure of who I was and how I had lived. I remember that feeling inside of me when I recognized just how wretched I was for the first time. It drives me still to repentance today. May I never sin and not be quickly driven to repentance. Lord, drive me to repentance always that I may never stray from you. Use my brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles, strangers and friends alike if I should sin and not see the snare my foot is in. Drive me also in love to tell others so that they too would have the choice to be set free from the snares of our enemy. I love you Father, and I don’t want to sin against you and I know that my fellow believers love you as I. I trust you now and forever as our Father to raise us well, rebuking our wrongs and guiding us to your rights. In Jesus’ name.
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