THE OUTCOMES OF CONVICTION

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

See what God did with this sadness of yours: how earnest it has made you, how eager to prove your innocence! Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault in the whole matter.

So, even though I wrote that letter, it was not because of the one who did wrong or the one who was wronged. Instead, I wrote it to make plain to you, in God's sight, how deep your devotion to us really is.

That is why we were encouraged.

2 Corinthians 7:11-13a

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

One of the greatest tools that the Lord possesses to shape us into being the people He wants us to be is conviction. This blessing comes upon us when we read the word of our Lord and allow His Holy Spirit to influence our heart and mind. Both will lead a person to a place of godly sorrow, a sincere regret for living in ways that are undesirable to God.

It was this godly sorrow that Paul was trying to cultivate within the church of Corinth and the believers there because he knew godly sorrow would lead to repentance and repentance would result in a turning from sin toward righteousness.

But repentance wasn’t the only byproduct of conviction and godly sorrow. For as we see in today’s passage, there were other important outcomes as well. Look again at Paul’s words here:

See what God did with this sadness of yours: how earnest it has made you, how eager to prove your innocence! Such indignation, such alarm, such feelings, such devotion, such readiness to punish wrongdoing! You have shown yourselves to be without fault in the whole matter.

So, even though I wrote that letter, it was not because of the one who did wrong or the one who was wronged. Instead, I wrote it to make plain to you, in God's sight, how deep your devotion to us really is. That is why we were encouraged. 2 Corinthians 7:11-13a

The godly sorrow produced by the Lord’s conviction had helped to sharpen the mindset of the Corinthian Christians. Their minds were eager to show their innocence to God, fueled by a righteous indignation. Their hearts were grounded in feelings of devotion to their Lord and a readiness to punish any wrongdoing within the church. There would be no more complicity with wickedness as the Jesus believers in Corinth were eager to show themselves faultless.

This was the state of the Corinthian church and it was a healthy one. Paul was pleased in where the Christians in Corinth were in relation to their God as well as to him and those traveling with him on the mission trail. The love of the Corinthians toward the missionaries who helped plant their church was an encouragement to them.

When we stay connected to the scriptures, we can’t but help to be convicted and led to a place of godly sorrow, challenged to live in ways that are counter to the world and pleasing in the sight of God. The word and Spirit of our Lord possesses a power to continuously transform a person, refining and reforming them daily to be a better person in the presence of God, a person more and more like the Christ who saved them. We should invite this as believers and be intentional about permitting the Lord to mold us in His image. When we do, we will be sure to be effective in living God, modeling the life of Jesus as we help others find salvation and become disciples in His name.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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GOOD SORROW?

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2 Corinthians 7:10

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God. 

The Israelites had been in exile for a very long time, seventy years to be exact. This was the period of God’s judgment imposed on the Israelite people, His people, after their continuous run of disobedience and disrespect towards Him.

We know that the Babylonians were used by God to carry out His judgment. They invaded the southern kingdom and laid it to waste, including the holy city of Jerusalem. Those Israelites who survived the onslaught were hauled away into captivity.

While in Babylon, the exiled Israelites had a lot of time to think about what they had done. Many were ready to return to the Promised Land after God’s imposed penalty to start anew. And so when the Persians defeated the Babylonians late into the time of exile, the stage was set for God to allow His people to return and rebuild their lives, their nation, and their relationship with Him.

In the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we read about how the Persian king Cyrus permitted the Israelites to return to their homeland if they so chose and I think it’s important to remember than not everyone went back. For those who did, we read about this event that took place as Ezra opened up and read the words of the Law:

On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. Nehemiah 9:1-3

Once the Israelites came back to their nation, we see in the last verse of chapter 7 through chapter 9 of Nehemiah that a priority was given to return to worshipping God and reconnecting with His word written in the Law. There were times of celebration and praise but then there was a time of solemn repentance as well as we see in the opening three verses of chapter 9. The scene was one of deep, heartfelt sorrow as the Israelites gathered together while fasting, wearing sackcloth, and heaping dust on their heads, the latter an intentional display of repentance. The scene was one of godly sorrow, a sorrow brought on by confession, a realization of just how sinful the Israelites had been before their God. It was this sorrow that brought the Israelites to repentance and a renewed commitment to get right with God and not repeat the errors of their ancestors.

Through this Old Testament event, we are reminded that a renewed relationship with God after one has strayed from His will into sin will lead to godly sorrow which in turn will result in repentance. When we read the word of God, illuminated and enhanced by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will always be convicted of our wrongs and led to a place of godly sorrow, saddened by our failure to be the person God wants us to be. This conviction and its subsequent repentance put us in a place where we can start fresh, having asked for forgiveness and knowing God will grant it when we are sincere in our confession and commitment to live in righteousness.

As we look at our single verse from 2 Corinthians 7, we see Paul reaffirming the beauty found in godly sorrow. Look again at his words here:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. v. 10

When we come to the Lord in solemn confession, admitting our sin, we come knowing He is willing to forgive us from our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). This pardon leaves us with no regret as we have gotten ourselves right with God in the moment and we are reminded of the eternal hope we have through belief in Jesus who gave His life as an atonement for the sins of all mankind. Anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Conversely, worldly sorrow has no connection to salvation because those feeling sorry for something they have done aren’t really sincere about it. If they were, then they would confess before the God who judges all and is willing to save them. Those in the world but not in Christ are traveling a road to death and eternal damnation. Like the Israelites in exile, they will have plenty of time to rue over their decision to reject Christ but that regret won’t have an expiration date. It will be an eternal pondering in Hell.

This is the sorrow Paul wanted the Corinthians to avoid. He wished for all to have everlasting life and devoted his life to that cause. He never shied away from writing words of conviction and calling out sin because he knew salvation could always be the end result of sorrow turned godly.

I don’t know about you but God’s word convicts me of something every time I read it. I am reminded just I am far from perfect and a work in progress as the Lord continues to shape me into the man He wants me to be. In my life, there are times of spiritual joy when I know I am hitting God’s mark in the way I live but then there are those times when my flaws are exposed and laid bare. I rejoice in both of these and the work the Lord is doing in and through me. I pray He is doing the same in your life.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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SORRY, NOT SORRY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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.

2 Corinthians 7:8-9

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

A recent ad campaign for one of my favorite candy products carried this slogan:

“Sorry, not sorry.”

On one hand, the company was seemingly apologizing for making peanut butter-filled chocolate cups that were incredibly delicious, so much so that people couldn’t stop buying and eating them.

On the other hand, the company wasn’t sorry for making candy that was so good to eat. Those who bought and consumed their product received great joy and satisfaction from doing so.

As we look at verses 8 and 9 of 2 Corinthians, chapter 7, we find the Apostle Paul engage in his own version of “sorry, not sorry” with the church in Corinth.

On one hand, Paul felt bad that he had to write words targeting wrongs inside the Corinthian church, wrongs that he knew would bring sorrow to the believers there. No one in Christ really likes to say things that are hurtful to others but sometimes, as we see in this case, it’s necessary.

You see, Paul’s words to the Corinthian Christians carried with it a big impact. His words convicted the church of its wrongs and this conviction produced a harvest of repentance as Jesus believers within the church committed themselves to turn from their wickedness toward righteousness. They weren’t harmed in any way by what Paul wrote. Rather, the apostle’s letter produced the sorrow and change that God intended.

Ultimately, all this left Paul happy and without regret. His words, directed by God, had the desired impact to produce the desired outcome. That’s what the word of Lord does when it takes root in those who hear and receive it.

What’s our takeaway today?

Sometimes ministry work requires that we be brutally honest with others, especially when it comes to sin. We should allow God to lead us to do and say what He intends so that His desired outcome is realized. Jesus did it and so did Paul. All we need to do is follow their lead.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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COMFORT FOR THE DOWNCAST

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In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

It’s been a rough week. I am always busy but this week exceeded the norm, leaving me feeling down and exhausted after meeting all the many challenges of the past seven days. I needed a real pick me up, an injection of reassurance and encouragement.

Have you ever been in such a place? Maybe you’re there as you read this.

Well, I have to report that today, the Lord delivered to meet my needs and in a big way. First, He brought me a good night’s rest, rest that could be extended because I am off work today. Then, after He restored by physical and mental strength, He fully engaged my spiritual side as I sat and worked on the Sunday school lesson I will teach tomorrow. Engaging with the word of God and the Holy Spirit filled up my spiritual fuel tank to overflow and brought me to a place of great energetic joy. I was reminded how I am never more pumped up in life than when I am fully engaged with my Lord while doing His work and will.

As we turn to our two verses today from 2 Corinthians, chapter 7, we find Paul testifying about his own time of need for encouragement and a pick-me-up. He gained it from multiple sources, all provided by the Lord. Take a look again at his words here:

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. vv. 5-7

Macedonia was a region north of Corinth. It’s where you find the city of Thessalonica.

By his own admission, Paul and those who were traveling with him came into the region tired. They weren’t at their best and vulnerable when they came under harassment “at every turn”, facing “conflicts on the outside” that resulted in “fears within”. He and the others needed help and God delivered.

We know this because Paul shares how the Lord brought them all comfort by sending Titus who shared how the Corinthian Christians had brought comfort to him while he was with them. Paul learned that God, the One who brings comfort to the downcast, had delivered for Titus and now was delivering for him and his ministry counterparts in Macedonia. For Titus brought more word from Corinth, that they were longing for Paul to return there and were showing ardent concern for Paul’s well being. I’m certain they were expressing this concern through prayers to the Lord on Paul’s behalf because this is one way that all believers should be showing concern for others, by interceding for needs via prayer to the One who can meet every need.

Paul’s need for comfort was satisfied by the Lord who brings comfort to the downcast. If you run down today by your life circumstances, I encourage you to turn to the word of God and allow it and the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. I promise you that the Lord will meet you where you are and bring you encouragement and hope, lifting your spirits and providing you the assurance that He is with you and for you, in good times and bad.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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