Lloyd Ogilvie, the chaplain of the US Senate, tells about a time when he was having lunch with a prominent businessman. A woman, who recognized the executive, walked over to their table and greeted him with a hefty slap on his back, causing him to spill coffee on his suit. Then with a flamboyant gesture, she tossed her fur stole over her shoulder, brushing Dr. Ogilvie full in the face. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized. The executive looked her straight in the eye and said, "Ma'am, don't be sorry, be different!"

When we sin, the Lord isn't interested in just a quick apology. He looks for a different attitude and a change of behavior. Scripture calls this godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:9-10).

Paul saw this sorrow in the Corinthian believers, which resulted from their response to an earlier letter of rebuke he had written (1 Cor. 5:1-8). At first it bothered him that he had made them sorrowful (2 Cor. 7:8), but when their sorrow led to a genuine change of heart the apostle rejoiced (vv.9-11).

Sorrow for sin can be good or bad. However, only when it leads to an intention to change does it bring freedom from guilt and the renewed joy of our salvation.  — Dennis J. De Haan