Dallas Willard warns us too of the "cost of non-discipleship." We may be able to live with some pain, but when our whole self becomes more and more rotten, the cost is far greater than dealing with the problem as soon as possible. This is why I think following Jesus, though challenging, is much easier than following anything else. The world has nothing better to offer me. Jesus has come to right my wrongs and to make me refreshingly new.

The basic question 'will I obey Christ 's teaching?' is rarely taken as a serious issue. For example, to take one of Jesus' commands, that is relevant to contemporary life, I don't know of any church that actually teaches a church how to bless people who curse them, yet this is a clear command.

Grace is opposed to earning, but not to effort.

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

To allow lust (or strong desires) to govern our life is to exalt our will over God's.

We know we can't be spiritually transformed by just focusing on the will.

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