For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarrelling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practised. ESVUK

There is an implied warning here of Paul maybe having to take disciplinary action on his next visit (see 1 Cor.4:21), if he finds blatant unrepentance in the church.

The sins he mentions (see also Mk.7:21-23; Gal.5:19-21), start in the individual heart, but can spread, like decay, through an entire congregation. Let us do a spiritual stock-take. Let’s examine our own hearts today, and seek to repent of any sin we find within. May God grant us the grace to nip bad things in the bud, before they grow to the point where they choke our spiritual life, and possibly ruin the church.

PRAYER: ”Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23,24

Thought: ”No matter how intentional you are to please God, you cannot live beyond what’s in your heart.’ Wale Olasoji