For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Titus 2:11-12

There is, or there should be, a contrast between the life of a believer and others in the world. Still, embracing the law of liberty in our lives is usually gradual. Before Christ, we want what we want, when we want it and are generally willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means hurting others in the process.

And so now, in light of Christ’s appearance as God’s grace, we are to discipline our lives and pursue God’s way of thinking and doing and responding. In another of his letters, Paul wrote to the Galatians about keeping in step with the Spirit –

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5:18-21

Consider the meanings of the words listed above. How many of us would think that a life marked by those kinds of characteristics is the best kind of life? The list describes for us a life marked by chaos, but Paul then mentions a much better way –

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-25

Living by the Spirit brings a life that is marked by the characteristics most would find redeeming, don’t you agree?