1 Corinthians 4:15 NKJV
15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
One of the plights of this generation is parents who are absent because they are so caught up with many other things trying to make a living. This leads to children who are neglected with no guidance and nurturing. The same applies to new believers in our churches. We rejoice when we have evangelistic outreaches and people get born again. We come back rejoicing because x number of people have got saved, and we leave it there, not recognizing that the work has just begun.
As it is said, making babies is the fun and easy part but raising them is the hard work. The same applies to new believers.
Every infant needs parental care, and the same applies to spiritual babies. Once an individual gets born again, they require a spiritually mature believer to walk with them as they parent them into spiritual maturity by providing an example they can look at, love and care. Just as a parent is fascinated as they see their infant grow and go through the various milestones of growth, so it is for a spiritual parent. It is such a joy to see a new believer grow into a disciple of Jesus Christ who can correctly divide the word of truth and raise others.
One key role of a parent is to nurture their child. Just as we have cultures that we are born into, and our parents teach us the way of life within these cultures, spiritual parents do the same. We are born again into a kingdom and a family that has a culture and a way of life, and the spiritual parent not only guides the new believer into this new lifestyle, they also demonstrate it.
Reflections.
- Does your heart go out to orphan’s and children in the streets fending for themselves?
- Did you have a spiritual parent and what impact did that have on your faith?
- Are you a spiritual parent to someone? If not, why not?
