“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (KJV, 2 Cor. 7:9-10).
“Now I rejoice”
Father, You have given me many reasons to rejoice. I am complete in Christ. I have been sanctified, justified, and made holy in Your sight. I am in Christ, and Christ is in me. I have a treasure in a jar of clay, and the ministry You have given me, You have given by Your mercy.
I am in a relationship with You based upon grace which abounds for me. You have made me into a new creation, and the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are also present realities for me.
I rejoice today that my sin is not held against me. Instead, Your Word tells me that You have cast my sin into the depths of the sea. You have removed my sin as far as the east is from the west.
Thank You for transferring my sin to Your Son. Jesus hung upon the cross for me. He conquered death for me. He lived a righteous life for me. Now I am righteous in Your sight because of Him.
I have many reasons to rejoice, but I often get fixated on things I shouldn’t. I can start to believe my lot in life is unworthy of praise. I can feel entitled and as though I deserve much more than what I have.
But I rejoice in the reminder that You have given me much more than I deserve, and when I can see with Your eyes, I see the many blessings. The wages of sin was death, but You have given me abundant life.
“not that ye were made sorry”
Please help me to rejoice for the right reasons. Teach me what it means to rejoice with biblical motives and intentions. Align my heart with Your Word today, and help me to honor You in my rejoicing.
I pray that I will learn to rejoice in the growth of others. I pray that You would even use me like Paul to help others see their need for repentance.
I know that repentance is not a word that is used often. It seems as though the world loves to be tolerant of the sins of others. However, repentance is a loving word. Jesus told the masses to repent, and so must I.
“but that ye sorrowed to repentance”
Herein I see Paul’s joy. The Corinthians did not simply feel bad because of their sin but were sorrowful unto repentance. So, Father, I pray that You would bring fresh repentance into my heart today.
I notice times when Your Spirit works mightily within my heart and assists me in greater levels of holy living. But then there are also times when I gradually sink back into sin and need to repent anew.
Please assist me by Your divine hand. Take me and set my feet on solid ground. Teach me to advance rather than backslide. Show me what it means to be transformed into the image of Christ as I behold His glory.
“for ye were made sorry after a godly manner”
Father, I see my need to be sorrowful in a godly manner. I am reminded of David, who said that it was against You alone that he sinned and did what was evil. I pray for Your Holy Spirit to open my eyes and help me to see.
Help me to see that the commands in Your Word are Yours. They are not man’s. You are the divine lawgiver. You have created with the intent of your Creation glorifying You throughout time and eternity.
Teach me what it means to fear Your name and look upon You respectfully. Help me, God. I pray to be grieved over my sin in a godly manner. Take me beyond the norm and into a depth with You that causes me to break over what You break over, weep over what You weep over, and grieve over what You grieve over.
“that ye might receive damage by us in nothing”
The godly grief of the Corinthians caused them to suffer no loss because of their genuine repentance.
I am reminded of Paul’s words when he said, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things…” (Phil. 3:7-8).
While Paul stated that he experienced loss it is clear his “loss” was as nothing to him because of his genuine repentance. May I also genuinely repent as Paul did and look to Christ as the ultimate gain.
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance”
It is only through godly sorrow that I will repent. The words of Paul are clear to me that it is godly sorrow that works repentance into my heart. I desire to turn from sin, but I need Your help. I need Your Spirit today to strengthen me.
I am reminded of the words of Paul to the Galatians. I have begun by the Spirit, but I often seek to be perfected by the flesh. But through faith, You work miracles, not through works of the law. So increase my faith today, and as I trust in You, work repentance in my heart.
“to salvation”
Father, Your salvation is all-encompassing. As an unbeliever, I repented of sin and became a believer. Now that I am a believer, I continue to repent and grow in my repentance. Initially, I repented unto the forgiveness of sin.
I was justified then and made right before You. Now I repent so that I can stay in close communion with You and experience the joy of my salvation.
Please help me to recognize that I am still being saved, and that repentance plays a significant part in this effort. Teach me that to work out my salvation means that I must bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
“not to be repented of”
When Judas betrayed Jesus, the Bible says that afterward, he repented. He gave the money back after he experienced a sense of guilt. However, his repentance was not accompanied by godly sorrow.
Your Word tells me that when I repent with godly sorrow, I will not experience the regret that would cause me to sink deeper into sin. Instead, John tells me that when I confess my sin, You are faithful and just and will forgive me. You will cleanse me from my unrighteousness.
Therefore, I am reminded of Peter, who denied his Lord three times. Later he was broken over his sin and wept bitterly. But his repentance brought about a radical change of heart. Please help me to repent like Peter.
“but the sorrow of the world”
Father, You tell me there are two sorrows, godly and worldly. When my concerns are more about what others might think of me, I experience worldly sorrow over my sin. When I am caught doing something I shouldn’t and grieved, it does not necessarily mean I have godly sorrow.
Please help me to fight against the temptation to be seen a certain way before the eyes of others. May I always remember it is your law and commands I am breaking.
“worketh death”
The outcome of worldly sorrow is made clear to me. It only works death. I know worldly sorrow speaks of a heart condition. It is a heart that fails to look upward. It is a heart that does not see You upon the throne. It is a heart that is too focused on the world, and very seldom does it recognize the bigger picture.
Work in my heart this day and help me to see You high and lifted up. May I behold You as Isaiah did and the train of Your robe filling the temple. In Jesus’ name, Amen.