WORLDLY SORROW VERSES GODLY REPENTANCE
“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.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
Sorrow of the world is only a temporary emotion, a lip service to Jesus, it will not be lasting nor, will it produce any righteousness. To regret means one has a sense of loss, personally. It has to do with oneself, one’s personal pain or discomfort. It’s worldly grief and produces no change of direction. It is a short-lived victory, it will not produce any lasting change. It will also give place for sin to cycle again in our personal lives.
The will of God is for His children to have a repentant heart. So much so that there is a heart change with a new behavior, or a new action. Repentance means to be penitent toward the Lord. Repentance isn’t about our loss but about obedience to Jesus and the concern of our sin hurting Him. It’s a desire to keep one’s relationship with Jesus pure. True repentance brings holiness and it is a lifestyle of authentic discipleship behavior.
The Lord Jesus will continue to circumcise our hearts to become more like Him. When conviction comes upon our heart in an area, we must yield to the Lord and allow the cutting! Obedience to Jesus brings the blessing of the Lord and breakthrough in our lives. This process of true repentance will enlarge us and cause a deeper intimacy with Jesus. He will reveal the hindrances and the little foxes that are spoiling the vine in our life. When the Lord is speaking to you, He is releasing the grace at that moment for repentance. He has something He wants to get to you, through your obedience. Choose today to live a lifestyle of true repentance and watch the peace of God and the blessing of God increase and begin to flow freely in your life!