2 Corinthians 7
July 15, 2022
“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.” (v8-9)
Paul’s willingness to confront sin sometimes meant hurting people’s feelings. And it’s clear that it wasn’t easy for Paul to call out his Corinthian brothers and sisters. Initially, he even “regretted it” (v8). But in the end, Paul was glad he confronted their sin, especially after he saw how it moved them to “repent” (v9). I can relate. Some of my hardest (and least enjoyable) assignments have involved confronting sin in a Christian brother’s life. But what a joy it’s been to see the Lord work through those hard assignments to bring brothers to repentance!
Father, thank You for being a God who grants forgiveness through Christ, when we turn from our sin and turn back to You. Forgive me for when I’m only sad about the effects of sin on me, instead of being sad for the way my sin grieves You. Grow in me a “godly sorrow” (v10) over my sin that moves me to true repentance and a regret-free life, the kind of life that brings glory to You and is good for me!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
