Today's reading:  1 Corinthians 5-6

"And you are so proud of yourselves?.."  1 Corinthians 5:2 NLT

Paul had a tough job to accomplish with his letter to the church at Corinth.

His mission was two-fold.

One side of his opportunity presented itself in the fact that this new church needed encouraging and cheering on.

The other side, the less than fun side, the side at which I'm sure Paul sought God's hand and words most--pointing out sins.  There were some things going on in the church that were flagrant sins.  Things that though contained to individuals, would surely spoil the entire community of believers. 

It's an ugly, but oh so important, job.  It hurts people's feelings.  It causes grief.  It brings out the worst in folks.  It makes you look like the goody-two-shoes.  It's embarrassing, for both parties.

But it's necessary.

Ask God to bring to your mind and heart the sins you're involved with.  Ask His spotlight of mercy and grace to scan over your heart and find what it is you believe to be in the gray areas, but have slid unknowingly into the darkness of sin.

Start with your own issues.  Then listen for His guidance in  regards to the issues of others.