Good Grief!

Daily Reading: 2 Corinthians 6-7

Scripture Focus: For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Devotional Thought: How many of us have had that mentor or friend in our lives who “says it like it is?” The person who doesn’t mince words, but instead hands out a hearty dose of truth with a steaming side of conviction? It is sure to cause us to bristle in defensiveness and grumble about the person, even when he or she is well-intentioned and correct! This is what Paul is addressing in this section of his letter to the Corinthians.

He had some hard things to say to these new believers, who needed instruction and correction. Knowing that he has offended some people, how does he address it in his letter? He tells them that not only does he not regret his words, but that he is rejoicing over their grief! But he clarifies, “I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting,” (v9). “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death,” (v10).

If you are a believer you have most likely felt the difference between these two types of grief. Worldly grief over sin has been nailed to the cross, we need not bear the burden of the guilt once those sins have been forgiven. Scripture tells us that God removes our transgressions from us “as far as the east is from the west.” On the other hand, we have also felt godly grief over sin that is found in our lives. Maybe it’s an attitude, a grudge, ingratitude, or something else. When we feel this godly grief, may it lead us to repentance! Then, like Paul, we too can rejoice over the temporary grief that leads to our refining in the Spirit.

Jenny

Prayer: Lord, help us to discern the difference between worldly grief and godly grief. Search our hearts and by your Spirit lead us in the way everlasting.

Psalm of the Day: 1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? 6 O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water. (Psalms 114:1-8)