2022_09_21 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- 2 Corinthians 7-8
Some of us long to hear the words, “I’m sorry”. We may want it to come from a parent or a sibling, or maybe a friend that hurt us deeply, or an employer that misjudged us, or even a neighbor that believed a malicious rumor. There are all kinds of relationships that have been damaged where a genuine and humble, “I’m sorry” could start the healing process. But there MUST be more than just words, and we see that in our reading this week. In chapter 7 we read this, “Godly sorrow brings repentance…” 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
Being sorry for wrong we have done is the beginning, but for it to have any lasting, positive impact, sorrow needs to be followed by repentance. The process starts with being sorry and repentance moves us to take deliberate action to change and go in a different direction. “I’m sorry” without any action is a fraud – nothing more than empty words attempting to smooth things over, move on and hope it doesn’t get brought up again. Unfortunately, families and friendships are littered with the wreckage of “I’m sorry” that isn’t coupled with real commitment to change and actions to back it up.
God is ready to help anyone that is willing to change. We may have tried a number of times and failed, but that’s ok and often part of the process of change. The deeper the habit, the more effort it takes to root it out and replace it with a better and healthier one. Earlier we came across this promise from God:
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) Admitting fault with God and others is the beginning of becoming the new person He wants us to be.
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor