Romans

As part of the Christian Union in The University of Sunderland we are currently looking at the incredible book of Romans. I love it, for many reasons. One of which being that it describes how we as sinful human beings are justified by faith. 
Now, not to downplay what Jesus did on the cross so that we could be saved, as it is the most amazing and best thing that ever took place on this earth. However, for me personally, being brought up in a Christian family (which I am truly thankful to my parents for) never quite made me realise the overwhelming NEED we have for a saviour.
Sure, as any other human I make mistakes every day and don't always abide by God's law. But I think because of my upbringing, these mistakes were only ever present in what the world would deem an insignificant form. The odd swear word or argument, and burning down an abandoned house (okay, so that was a pretty big one, but I was really just an observer when that took place...). You hear these incredible testimonies of people coming to Christ after drug addictions and prison sentences, prostitution and alcoholism. Amazing stories that completely give us every reason to praise God for what he did for us on the cross. I guess you could say because I've always accepted Jesus as my saviour, I never delved into any of those lifestyles, as I'd already been saved from it.
I won't give details, but after making some really big mistakes recently, I've realised what I am without Jesus's death. Yes, that sounds blunt, but we have to understand the realness of a horrific death that took place over 2000 years ago, so that WE could be made righteous.
I can't be any more honest now, but it used to frustrate me that people couldn't grasp the concept of grace and that they couldn't believe that God loved them despite there past etc etc. Now I have a reason to be desperate for God's grace, I understand it. Why should we be given grace freely, especially if it means the death of the Lord himself in a horrific way. Because we're loved, and God wants us made right with him.
Just think, and dwell in it, and realise the mind blowing realness of our justification.

Value

A preacher summed up my thinking behind the term 'stripped' yesterday. 

Where do we find our value? Is it the impression we give off to others when we're on our ipads on the train. Carrying a kindle? Expensive clothes? The people we talk to and associate with? The places we go? The pictures we put up on our facebook? The coffee we drink? The money other people see us giving? 

Being humble is doing things for God's glory, not doing deeds that we know others will see us do and therefore appear to be a good person.

God gives us value when we accept him as our Saviour and Lord. Adding these worldly levels of value to ourselves does not increase our value, it only chips away at what God has made us: a new creation.

Being humble is doing things for God's glory, not doing deeds that we know others will see us do and therefore appear to be a good person.

These things aren't bad, but should be distinguished as things that the world hold high in value for a person, not what God does. It's like chasing the wind - Ecclesiastes.