12/27/13 A NEW YEAR'S THOUGHT...
Setting a broken bone is often a painful step towards healing/recovery. Likewise, the steps toward spiritual and relational healing/recovery, (whether with men or with God) are often painful.
When God shows us our sins, the proper response is godly sorrow, which results in repentance (2 Co. 7:10). The problem is that most people either have no sorrow for their sins or they have a worldly sorrow (2 Co. 7:10). Worldly sorrow produces regret, guilt, shame, but it does not result in repentance. Repentance is a change of mind, a change of direction.
If I offend (cause to stumble, violate or cause displeasure to someone), I need to be sorrowful (sorry) for my words/actions and I need to express and demonstrate that sorrow to the one I have offended. People confuse an apology, "I am sorry" with godly sorrow. Actually, the word "apology" comes the Greek, meaning, "to give a personal defense." Too often people are defending their words and actions rather than regretting, turning from and expressing true sorrow to the one they have offended. Words are not enough, when it comes to healing a broken relationship. As someone said, "'I'm sorry' does not pay the bill."
People are sometimes sorry that they got in trouble for their words/actions, or they are sorry that they got caught, but they do not sense the horror and vileness of their behavior. Even non-Christians sometimes acknowledge their errant ways and try to make amends, rather than just say the words. By God's grace, true sorrow leads to a change in behavior and attitude. True sorrow is the death knell for sinful, offensive behavior. True sorrow is the Biblical response to one's own violation of other people
Sometimes the healing hurts, but without the healing, there will always be the hurting.
2 Corinthians 7:10
(10) For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Luke 15:10
(10) Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
(24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
(25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
(26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
