Memorise:
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2nd Corinthians 7:10
Read: Matthew 5:4
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Message
The word of God is full of mysteries. Our Bible reading today reveals one of such mysteries. How can mourning, which is an expression of deep sorrow, become a blessing? The answer lies in our memory verse which reveals two types of sorrow: godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world. There are lots of blessings associated with godly sorrow. One of these is that it produces repentance which brings about salvation. Godly sorrow can be experienced as a result of conviction of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:24-25) or through the Father’s chastening. The godly sorrow that results from the Father's chastening, blesses its recipient with the fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11 says;
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
There are examples in the Bible of those who mourned for their sins, and for this, received pardon and justification. The city of Nineveh is an example of this (Jonah 3). After Jonah preached the message of doom to the inhabitants of Nineveh, the Bible reports that the king of that city abandoned his throne, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. He then commanded that everybody, including animals, should embark on a fast. The result of their mourning is evidence in Jonah 3:10:
“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
The publican in the parable of Jesus in Luke 18:9-14 is another example. This man mourned by bowing his head down like a bulrush, beating on his breast and asking for God’s mercy. The result of his mourning can be seen in Luke 18:14a:
“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:”
I prophesy to you that in the Name of Jesus Christ, your days of mourning are over. It shall be well with you because the Bible in Psalm 30:5 says:
“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
Prayer point:
Father, I confess my sins to You; have mercy on me and let my morning of joy come now.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 KINGS 20:26-21:29 and LUKE 6:46-7:17
AUTHOR : Pastor E.A. ADEBOYE
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