Saturday after the Third Sunday of Advent, 12/23/00

2 Corinthians 7: 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. --NIV

In the name of the One Who gives Godly Sorrow, amen.

It hardly seems like there could be such a thing as "godly sorrow." After all, what does God ever have to be sorry for? But God gives sorrow over sin. He speaks to us in His word, and sometimes He causes things to happen to us that call our attention to our sins. He firmly, yet lovingly, tells us how bad our sins are. He does this not so that He can feel better about Himself, or even for any advantage to Himself, but so that we can be saved from His wrath in the judgment.

The Lord truly loves all people. He doesn't want anyone to suffer the pain of hell, and so He causes us to have godly sorrow. That sorrow causes us to look to Jesus for forgiveness. Then, in forgiveness, we see how we are brought closer to God and strengthened in our faith. May God grant us all godly sorrow. Amen.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, when we are caught up in sin and rebelling against You, rebuke us. Give us the kind of sorrow over sin that only comes by the Holy Spirit. Keep us in the true faith so that we may have eternal life. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

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