QT 6/3/2025 2 Cor 7:10–16, Godly grief

2 Corinthians 7:10–16 (ESV) —

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

 

NOTE: I don't know what the matter was the caused all the sorrow and hurt. I do know that godly grief is different from worldly grief. The latter is self-centered, focusing on what the individual loses or does not gain. Godly grief is concern about hurts to others and to God's name. This grief brings about true repentance, not just tears, but tears for the right reasons. We all can cry but our motives can be wrong or even deceitful. I've seen many who are only sad because they were caught (of course they wouldn't say that). But many fool themselves, and think that they have repented. We are deceitful creatures even to ourselves. We need to go to God and ask him to reveal to ourselves our own true motives. Some will not even take the time to ask God this question.

 

PONDER:

1. Father, help me to see my true motives especially in this recent situation.
2. Search me, know me, and show me my true self.

 

PRAYER: Father, If I think I am clean, then I am probably dirty. Search me, cleanse me, change me. I want to follow you.