As I think back over the last few years of my life, teaching students mathematics has been a big part of it. As I have taught various concepts in the world of Geometry, Algebra, or Probability, as you may have guessed, I have a student or two utter the phrase, "I don't get it." In fact I have probably heard that phrase more often then I care to admit. Most of these instances, students just did not understand the way I explained it or there was a mistake in their mathematics, so I would adjust the way I explained it and help them correct their mistakes and the light bulb would come on and they would "get it".
The most frustrating times for me as a teacher are the "You making this harder than it has to be" moments. This is when students would try to make a complex theory out of a simple formula.
All too often we treat the message of Christ much the same way. We make it so hard by adding conditions to come to God. Whether it is giving up a habit or knowing more about the Bible or going to church more, we feel have to do certain things before will let us come to Him. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 says it with such simplicity:
18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sina]"> for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Sometimes when we read the Bible, much like my math students, we over complicate its message. We search for hidden meanings and find some deep spiritual meaning to it instead of reading what was intended. The message of Christ is simple. Christ came so that through the Cross, in our imperfection and weakness, we can be in right standing with God. God desires relationship with us. So as you go about your day, let the simplicity of the message resonate in you.
