"For me Christianity is very simple", announced my first headmaster in assembly. "Actually, I find it really difficult", whispered a Catholic colleague. Both were correct. In many ways Jesus described following Him as simple. His description of marriage in vv4-6, His encouragement of a childlike faith vv14,15 and His affirmation of Peter in vv28-30 all suggest that a straightforward trust in Him and a simple willingness to obey result in a rich relationship with God leading to fulfilment in this life and incredible rewards in the next. The difficulties come as a result of being fallen creatures in a fallen world. We mess up on relationships. We fear the commitment of a childlike faith, as did Abraham in today's Genesis reading, and, like the rich young ruler, we allow, sometimes unwittingly, something else to be more important than knowing and loving God. The glorious news is that God is in the business of finding ways round our difficulties, and however much we may have messed up, He does not give up on us. So being divorced, far from blocking us out of God's presence, only reveals more of his provision and loving acceptance of us. Our fear of simple faith and obedience, leading to sin, and possibly disastrous consequences, as with Abraham, or even as serious as Israel's collective sin, that led to the exile, can be forgiven through repentance and faith in the Sacrifice that Abraham, the Israelites and even those hearers of Jesus, could hardly imagine, but that we can accept and know. Yet even with all our privileges as Christians, we can fall for the same trap as the rich young ruler and put something else before God. The solution for this does not only come from Him, but requires action from us too, and here's the difficulty we've got ourselves into - are we really prepared to give up whatever we're putting before Him? Of course, it may not be money - but it might be!
(homegroup member)