The Right Kind Of Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:10 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.

Worldly sorrow also lacks the knowledge of love that Godly sorrow knows how to experience.

We recently have read the book of Jonah with the girls (per request). We did not read a glossy, picture filled version (of which we have a couple I think), we read the 4 chapters straight from the old testament. I LOVE that the girls are requesting to read the stories they have heard about in Sunday School and VBS and the glossy picture books straight from the Bible – going to the source is such a better way to get your information. They definitely remember the pictures from the glossy children’s books and like to compare the story with the pictures they remember (so there is a definite benefit to them). But it is fun that they are at an age they no longer need them and we get to go deeper with the story of how God used all the things that happened to Jonah for not only Ninevah’s salvation but Jonah’s as well (and, Mia noted, the men on the boat with Jonah).

No discipline or training should come without the knowledge of love and how to repent and avoid sin and its consequences in the future. Because of Jonah’s disobedience to the take the news of salvation to the people of Ninevah, the Lord allowed him to experience the full consequence of his decision (along with a lesson in how God’s love, discipline and salvation really works). He brought Jonah near death then saved him. The experiences in our life that look like the darkest and worst are sometimes God’s way of saving us from complete death and separation from Him. He might even let us get right at death’s door, only to show us the way back and display His love and care for us. (Read Jonah’s Prayer in Chapter 2). Praise In The Storm

No matter how “Godly” we think we are, we are only as “godly” as we are humble. We must be fully aware of our total dependence on God to fulfill our purpose, work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12, NLT) and be fueled by His grace and redemption to keep us from the sorrow of the past. He allows us to walk in the new joy of our presence with Him – He reveals to us (probably something we already knew but weren’t living) that He alone is God and that He alone has the power over death and life.

Like Jonah, we blatantly disobey and decide to act in defiance of God’s good and wise instruction. Jonah’s job was a prophet and he had become so proud that he forgot he was a human who could still sin, disobey and fall short of the glory of God. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of the God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23, NLT). While Jonah was judging Ninevah for their sin and disobedience, God humbled him and opened his eyes to his own sin, brought him to a deep sorrow and revealed his continued need for salvation and redemption. Then, because of the redemption and salvation he received, he joyously shared the grace of God with others (this is what our response could be too if we allow).

In opening our eyes to our sins, God allows us to experience a sorrow that lifts us and brings us out of the death of sin and into life – were His joy, love and patience reside. A Song of Declaration

1 Corinthians 11:32 (NLT) Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

Hebrews 12:8, 10b-13 (NLT) If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. …God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.