Articles and thoughts by Steve Green.
Two Kinds of Grief
December 17th, 2007
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Co. 7:10
When confronted with my sin, how do I respond? Will I sink into a worldly sorrow that slowly destroys? That kind of grief wallows in shame and stems from an unraveling of the illusion that I am not really that bad after all. But isn’t that just self-righteousness, the refusal to acknowledge the depravity of my heart? A first human reaction is the attempt to pay for sin by doing some kind of penance. Perhaps if I suffer enough in self-contempt, or try to tip the scales of God’s requirement by doing good works, I can find relief and self-justification. In one of his radio programs, Steve Brown responded to a man who was in just such a condition saying, “Cheer up. You are much worse than you think! But cheer up. You are more loved than you dare imagine!” Martin Luther wrote, “Sin is not canceled by lawful living, for no person is able to live up to the Law. The Law reveals guilt, fills the conscience with terror, and drives men to despair. Much less is sin taken away by man-invented endeavors. The fact is, the more a person seeks credit for himself by his own efforts, the deeper he goes into debt. Nothing can take away sin except the grace of God.”
What does all this have to do with Christmas? Everything. Jesus came to save us from our sins. The only hope we have is Him, and that hope is a precious thing. The gospel frees us from worldly sorrow and brings the sweet sorrow that leads to a change of heart. I am sobered again by the sinful tendency of my own heart, yet breathing a sigh of relief that the gospel is indeed true. Broken people need a perfect Savior. Hallelujah for such a Savior!
As my pastor admonished, will you join me in spending some time this season, allowing the Lord to ‘wound’ and to ‘heal’ our hearts, to the end that this next year will be a year of greater faith, love, obedience and change?
Have a blessed Christmas
Thank you for those challenging thoughts Steve. Indeed when God touches and ‘wounds’ our hearts we can never be the same again. With the wounding comes the healing from the hand and heart of a kind, merciful and gracious Saviour! Oh that I may know Him more and more in the days that lie ahead - however many they may be! Each day drawing me nearer to Him and to eternity! May God continue to bless you and the team in your ministry. It has blessed me so many times!
Comment by sandra norgate — December 26, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
What a timely read for me. I am on a journey of brokenness and repentance and renewal and healing. 2008 is going to be a year of huge transitions for me as I potentially lose my entire family and must be strong for them as we go through this time. I cannot fathom the possibility without Jesus at the center.
As you said, Hallelujah for such a Savior! I will be clinging to Him with every ounce of strength I have as we face each new crisis when it arises.
My prayer is that I continue to experience the godly sorrow and grief as I prepare for the inevitable personal grief of losing the family.
Marijean and Steve - thank you for your prayers for me over the years. They have helped me to get to this point in my life - and from here, only God knows where He will take me next.
Comment by Lisa (in FL) — January 12, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
I HAVE BEEN A LISTENER AND LOVER OF YOUR SONGS FROM THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN, I AM NOW(41)AND STILL RUN TO MY COLLECTION OF YOUR MUSIC FOR SUSTINANCE IN TIME OF TROUBLE. YOU HAVE SUNG A SONG FOR EVERY TRIAL I HAVE EVER GONE THRU. TODAY I REACH FOR “GUARD YOUR HEART”.KNOW THAT YOUR MUSIC IS A BLESSING THAT HELPS TO CONFIRM GOD,S WORD IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER. THANK YOU.
Comment by denise rugby — April 20, 2008 @ 2:37 pm