Monday, July 31
Good sad/bad sad
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7
2 Corinthians 7:10–11 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death. 11 For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
Observation
This is the third day in a row that I’ve been struck by what the Bible says about repentance.
Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians that made them sad, caused them sorrow. But he had no regrets because it was godly sorrow, “sadness as intended by God.” This godly sorrow produced repentance that led to salvation in contrast to a worldly sorrow that only brings about death.
Think of it this way. Worldly sorrow is sadness that we got caught, sadness that we hurt ourselves or others, or other types of sadness—but no change. It is sadness without repentance. Sadness without change. This produces death.
Godly sorrow leads to repentance—change—and results in salvation.
Good sad/bad sad.
Application
I thought again of the friend I mentioned yesterday who is committing adultery and has expressed his sorrow that he hurt all of us—but without changing. It’s worldly sorrow—empty sorrow—no repentance.
Then, once again, I thought of me. Where do I feel sadness, but without change? It’s so easy to feel regret without change, and stay stuck where you are. I do it all the time. I’m sad that I’m 15 pounds overweight, but I don’t change my eating and exercise habits. I’m sad that my first love has waned, but now I need to actually make some changes. And there are other things…
So I want to evaluate my sadnesses. What makes me sad? Is it godly or worldly? Am I actually making any changes or just feeling sad? Good sad or bad sad?
Prayer: Lord, I love You and I don’t want to stay stuck. Help me to be aware of what needs to change in my life and make the changes. Help me live a life of ongoing repentance and change!
More: 2 Chronicles 35-36, Psalm 89, Revelation 3