Anglican Devotional 19 August 2022 – Genuine Repentance

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 19 August 2022 – Genuine Repentance

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TOPIC: Genuine Repentance

TEXT: 2 Corinthians 7:8-16 (NKJV)

8. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
9. Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10. For godly sorrow produces repentance [leading] to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, [what] clearing [of yourselves, what] indignation, [what] fear, [what] vehement desire, [what] zeal, [what] vindication! In all [things] you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12. Therefore, although I wrote to you, [I did] not [do it] for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
13. Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.
14. For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.
15. And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.
16. Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

THE MESSAGE:

The main message of Jesus Christ is that all should repent of their evil ways and turn to God because the kingdom of heaven is near. Likewise, Paul in his letter to the Corinthians stated the same, though the letter caused them sorrow yet, Paul did not regret it. He knew that their sorrow over sins would prompt them to repent and lead them to obedience. Paul was happy because they desired to turn away from their sins and restore their relationship with God. It is needful to have genuine sorrow over one’s sin which leads to genuine and complete repentance.

The world is full of evil, our society has been corrupted, and evil acts are now the order of the day. As Paul called the Christians at Corinth so the word of God is calling us to first identify that we are sinners, exhibit genuine sorrow and thereafter, seek the face of God by determining to forsake every sinful act in order to restore our relationship with God. As a nation, Church, family and individuals, God awaits our earnest and sincere repentance, and then He will look down on us and heal our land.

PRAYER: Father, give me a repentant heart, to do Your will and follow Your path, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.