Text: Psalms 51
Memory text:
“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Isaiah 57:15 NKJV
There is a maxim, “If it makes me sad, it must be bad!” Everyone seems to adhere to it by default. As a result, everyone avoids anything that can make them feel sad or adopts all strategies to wade off the sadness, including alcoholism, attending a comedy show or concert, increasing workload, listening to music, watching movies or use of drugs and most believers will plunge themselves into more spiritual activities.
However, not all sorrows are bad.
There are two types of sorrows.
The godly sorrow is for a short time but tremendously beneficial. It produces repentance, which leads to salvation (2 Cor 7:9). This is the kind of sorrow that God wants you to experience. The worldly sorrow is ungodly, carnal, and destructive in effect. It should not be desired.
Godly sorrow is the sorrow that comes when you think of how your sins have disappointed the God who loves you so much, how you have hurt Jesus who sacrificed His life to forgive you and how you have grieved the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. It is the sorrow towards God. It is also concerned about the impact of your sin on others and how your actions have made them perceive God.
It is marked by genuine repentance, brokenness, and humility. These are also the goals of divine rebuke and correction.
A good example of godly sorrow is seen in David, after prophet Nathan confronted him with his adulterous sin. You will appreciate the humility of David when you compare his spiritual ranking with Nathan. While Nathan was only a prophet, David was a king, a priest, and a prophet. Yet, David did not think about himself while he confessed his sins before Nathan! Godly sorrow seeks God’s approval and not man. A man with genuine repentance thinks about how God esteems him, and he is not concerned about himself or man. Reverence for God and his damaged reputation are his major concerns.
No wonder God reversed the earlier judgment pronounced on David (2 Sam 12:13). You will also appreciate his repentance and brokenness when you read his Psalms in chapter 51.
He acknowledged that he sinned against God and was not in any way defensive of his sins (verses 3-4).
God esteems the broken hearts (Psa 51:17; Isa 57:15; Matt 5:4).
Friends, don’t reject godly sorrow nor get discouraged when God rebukes you. Let your sorrow be marked with repentance, brokenness, and humility.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, give me a heart that responds to divine rebuke with genuine repentance, brokenness, and humility in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, deliver me from hidden pride that shows up when I am being corrected in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. I will not allow my spiritual position, status, and qualifications to keep me from godly sorrow.
2. I will not defend, rationalize, or justify my sins when God rebukes me.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng