Made sorrowful to the point of repentance

2 Corinthians 7:8-16 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— ⁹ I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. ¹⁰ For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹ For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. ¹² So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness in our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. ¹³ Because of this, we have been comforted.

And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. ¹⁴ For if I have boasted to him about you regarding anything, I was not put to shame. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so also our boasting before Titus proved to be the truth. ¹⁵ His affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I rejoice that in everything I have confidence in you.

Far too often today, it seems as though the church has bought into the world’s philosophy that we need to be careful not to offend people, even if it is the truth that offends, even if it is the cross that offends, even if it is calling out the immorality and darkness that is so ingrained in our culture. In today’s text it says: I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.  People may be offended and hurt by the truth, but if even some are made sorrowful to the point of repentance, we can rejoice. It is not that we should portray God as an angry God. Romans 2:4 says: Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? We should portray God’s love and kindness to the world. We should not though fail to tell the truth about what God’s love looks like; about what He did for us in love. Romans 5:8 says: God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”  God’s love is demonstrated in the cross. Jesus died so that we could be saved and redeemed from sin. When anyone truly looks on the suffering and sacrifice of Christ on the cross, they should not be offended, but rather, made sorrowful to the point of repentance. The sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.  Surely it is better to know the sorrow that is according to the will of God than the sorrow of the world.

In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus says: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Our words of truth should be like a preservative to the world. We should not worry if the truth is offensive to some. It is said, and surely we see it in our culture and society that truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth. Our actions should be like light in the darkness of the world. We should not hide the light of Christ because some are offended by it. We should shine brightly so that the darkness would not be offended but dispelled, that the world may see and know the truth, and glorify God.  

Romans 8:28-30 says:  We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. May our prayer be that we would be used to cause things to work together for the good of those who love God. If we cause anyone sorrow, may it be sorrow that leads to repentance. Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.