Aj Schwanz

I’ve been reading 1 Corinthians as of late.  A blog post referenced 1 Corinthians 14 in regards to worship; since that’s a topic on my mind, I sensed that a reading of the whole book would be best to put it into context rather than picking and choosing bits and pieces, as we evangelicals tend to do.

During my breakfast reading I came across this verse - 4:15

• NKJV:  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. 
• NIV:  Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
• NLT:  For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.
• MSG:   There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God’s Message to you that I became your father.

Doesn’t it seem like so many folks are willing to share, tell, exclaim, proclaim the Message?  But how many are willing to listen, watch, observe, step into the weak places, teach, call out?  I think there’s a place for both, but it made me think about the Spiritual Parents in my life.  And boy howdy am I thankful for them.