Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter... I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while... For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. Have you ever regretted for things that you've done? I trust that all of us have regretted for the failures and wounds that cannot be repaired. How are we going to be delivered from our past and present failures? Paul talked about two types of sorrow here. First, it's the worldly sorrow, which is the response of human nature, coming from accusation by the devil. Some people live their whole life in accusation; they cannot forgive themselves, and they don't dare even thinking about the past. That's why Paul said, in verse 10, that "worldly sorrow brings death." Judah, who betrayed Jesus, deeply regretted after he sold Jesus, so he returned 30 silver coins to priest and elders, telling them: "I have sinned... for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." This is a typical ploy of the devil: First, it used 30 silver coins to deceive Judah, making him think that he was doing the right thing. After Judah sold the Lord, they turned around and accused him. Judah was in sorrow because he was accused by the devil; so he hung himself as he couldn't confront the accusation from inside. Paul talked about another type of sorrow, which is by God's will and from the Holy Spirit. John 16:8 says that the Holy Spirit "will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment..." This conviction is not to put people to death, but to bring hope, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. The precious blood of Jesus will cleanse us, both in terms of our position as well as our feeling. We can experience His forgiveness and receive true healing. Peter denied the Lord three times, but when he saw the loving eyes of Jesus, he went out and wept. After the Holy Spirit came on the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit brought us comfort from God and rebuilt our lives. Are you still in regrets and cannot be delivered? Turn back to God today and let the Lord's precious blood cleanse you!
Lord, I thank you because you precious blood is still effective today. I now proclaim in the victorious name of the Lord that my brothers and sisters will be covered by precious blood of Jesus. All the accusations deep down inside will be broken, and those in sorrow of failure will be comforted by the Lord. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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