Scripture
“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. “2 Corinthians 7: 10-11 NLT
Observation
Have you ever been corrected by another individual? Most likely yes. I’ve been corrected many times, so we’re in the same boat. Depending upon the “spirit” of the person correcting you the act results in a couple different reactions.
- defensiveness/anger
- sorrow/conviction
If you get defensive and angry the next logical step is to lash out. If you are sorry and become convicted the next logical step is repentance. Godly sorrow produces conviction and leads us away from sin and towards a reconciliation with him.
Application
There have been many times when correction has led me to be convicted in a way that produced “godly sorrow”. That’s the kind of correction that we need to be attentive to so that we can repent. It comes in many ways. Through people, the holy spirit, many times while reading the bible, praying, reflection…
What about those times that I feel led to correct? Do it prayerfully.
Prayer
Thank you for giving me the opportunity so many times in my life to recognize a wrong, stand convicted, and repent. Please help me to be attentive to things that need correcting so that I can be a better example for others. Help me become a better ambassador for you.
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James this is a great word for us! So very true … we can be sorry but if there is no change …. then it is just “lip service”. I know when I come up against these two reactions … either anger or conviction I know God is dealing with me. At times it is such a struggle to turn from the anger part for our pride gets involved and we don’t want to admit that we have done something wrong. Praise God for His Holy Spirit that brings conviction which leads to repentance. When that bird of conviction flys overhead we can accept the correction, let the bird fly or allow it to build a nest in our hair and entertain anger and getting back or even justification which does not please God. Thank you Holy Spirit for the correction you bring to our lives and for loving us enough to not allow us to stay where we are.