Today's Bible reading is from Paul's second letter to the Christians in Corinth. He begins the chapter by calling them "beloved" and finishes by rejoicing over his confidence in them.

How could he honestly say those things, considering that the rest of the chapter is about their sins he had sternly confronted in his first letter? (1 Cor. 5). He could commend them because they had responded with godly sorrow. They had sincerely repented, and now their slate was completely clean!

Many of us as Christians find it difficult to accept God's forgiveness for our sin and to feel forgiven. We tell others about the love and forgiveness that Jesus offers, yet the hardest thing for us to do, it seems, is to receive that same love and forgiveness. After we've done something wrong, it's not unusual to feel sorry about it. But if we merely regret the consequences and don't genuinely repent and accept God's forgiveness, we have done nothing more than sorrow as the world does (2 Cor. 7:10).

Don't say, "If only I could undo the past." You can't undo sin, but you can sincerely repent of it. Our merciful God is waiting right now to flood your troubled heart with the joy of His forgiveness.  — Joanie Yoder