Thoughts on life, love, and Romans

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins." Romans 3:23-24
-None of us is, or ever could be good enough for the amazing grace God poured out for us. Jesus was the only perfect person who ever has and ever will live. He brought a new mercy and forgiveness that was more than we could have ever hoped for. (Ex: Jesus' "turn the other cheek" mentality compared to the "eye for an eye" concept of the Old Testament.) We aren't expected to be perfect. We are simply commanded to LOVE. Love God, and love others.

"Don't you see how wonderfully, kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" Romans 2:4
-God doesn't give up on us. He is constantly loving us and pursuing us. A way we show God we love him is by responding to that pursuit and OBEYING him.

"Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" Romans 6:1-2
-So, if we show God we love him by obeying him, it is impossible to love him while we are in sin. Loving God requires effort. As humans (especially us college kids), it is not our natural mindset to constantly be putting others before us, and depriving ourselves what we want, when we want it. We do not have a default setting which makes it easy for us to obey God, especially when it doesn't match up with our plans. But loving God means obeying him. Loving God requires us to constantly be running towards him, pushing ourselves to do what we know is pleasing to him, instead of what is pleasing to the world. When we stop pursuing God, that is when we fall into sin. Fortunately, God's grace allows us to stumble and even fall flat on our face in our sin. However, it also encourages us to get back up and keep going.

I think this sums up my rambling nicely:
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2