He [Peter after the resurrection] now understood that he and the church were to exercise a transcendent power that did not depend upon having a kingdom or government in any human sense, for it was literally a "God government" in which they were participants (Acts 1:6-8).

Jesus is actually looking for people he can trust with his power.

What we can accomplish as good as it may be does not compare to what God can accomplish

Find a person who has embraced anger, and you will find a person with a wounded ego.

There is absolutely nothing in what Jesus himself or his early followers taught that suggests you can decide just to enjoy forgiveness at Jesus' expense and have nothing more to do with him.

My central claim is that we can become like Christ by doing one thing -- by following him in the overall style of life he chose for himself.

Unless you have already put God first, for example, what you will have to do to be financially secure, impress other people, or fulfill your desires will invariably lead you against God's wishes. That is why the first of the Ten Commandments, “You shall have no gods who take priority over me,” is the first of the Ten Commandments.