email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

August 20, 2018

2 Corinthians 7:8-11

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

New International Version (NIV)

   “Good grief, Charlie Brown!” You may remember that expression from the Peanuts comic strip. Is there such a thing? I mean, is grief ever good?

                Paul wrote a letter to people he loved knowing that his words would make them sad. Why would he do that?   Paul knew that some grief leads to repentance which leads to salvation. We cannot help people get closer to God by ignoring their sin.

                Imagine a parent telling a child going out on a date, “You must be home by 11.” Then imagine the child saying, “What did he really mean by 11? He didn’t say A.M. or P.M. And home is where the heart is. My heart is here. So I am already home.” In fact the parent was very clear, but the child didn’t want to do what the parent said.

               Just so, we could take the clear teachings of scripture and call them unclear. The result would be “anything goes.” If a person then corrected us and said, “No. God really meant what he said there,” it might hurt our feelings, but it also might save our souls. Paul was willing to hurt the feelings of the Corinthians so that they might come near to God.

               There is such a thing as good grief. I pray that we will experience it, turn from our sin and draw close to God. Because good grief now may save us bad grief forever.

Pray with me:

Father, thank you for those who hurt our feelings in order to call us back to you. We bless the wounds of a friend who is not afraid to tell us the truth. Make us those kinds of friends we pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane

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