With No Regrets

"For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God."  (2Corinthians 7:8-12 NAS95S)

Observation:  Godly sorrow comes with no regrets.  True repentance is without resentment.  As Paul says, true repentance produces vindication, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and an avenging of wrong.  Godly sorrow produces an earnestness in the heart of the receiver that results in a life of passion and purpose.  How we need the true repentance of the Lord!!!

Application:  These words come at a great time in my experience and in the experience of the churches of the San Luis Valley.  We have be walking our way through the book of Malachi.  Our series is entitled The Refiner's Fire.  It is all about being purified through the fiery tears of repentance and true turn around.  

And these words of Paul come as an assurance this morning that we don't have to fear repentance.  That when we repent, there is joy awaiting us on the other side of mourning.  True repentance is seen in the true apostle who goes forth with the seed of the gospel:

"He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalms 126:6 NKJV)'

It is the tears of the truly repentant that will cause the seed of God's word to come to life in the lives of the lost.  When they see His power to save, His power to transform our lives, His power to create a true change in us, they will come running to the foot of the cross.  I believe part of the reason the church is so ineffective today is because we are so unrepentant.  

It is time we sought the gift of repentance.  It is time we cried out for the convicting influence of His Holy Spirit.  Time that we got on our knees and pleaded... God save us.  God change us.  God sent a Spirit of grace and supplication (Zechariah 12:10) upon your people that we might look upon the one whom we have pierced and mourn with a true repentance because of the power of His sacrifice on Calvary's cross.  May this be our prayer!  And as the tears of repentance flow, may the seed of God's word bear the fruit of salvation in the lives of the lost!