2 Corinthians 7:8-13

 8Even 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— 9yet now I am happy,
not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.
For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by
us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret,
but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See what this godly sorrow has produced in
you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what
alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every
point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12So even though
I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the
injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted
to us you are. 13By all this we are encouraged.

MEDITATION
1. The world’s sorrow is an “I’m sorry I got caught” kind of sorrow.  The individual
is sorry for himself, and the consequences he now has to pay.  Godly sorrow
is grief about the original act, and repentance – a commitment to turn from
wrongdoing and to turn back toward God.  We grieve, like Isaiah does in
Isaiah 6, not only for ourselves, but also because we belong to a people who
are sinful.  With this comes spiritual insight and maturity.
2. Have I ever experienced this deep godly grief, for myself, or for others?

Personal Note:
Before I accepted Christ, I would feel sorry when I got caught in doing wrong things and I would think about how the negative consequences affect my overall well being.  Today, I learn that genuine repentance leads to us feeling sorry for the hurt and pain inflicted on God and to others.