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For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.¹

We live in a community that cares for a few neutered cats for the purpose of containing the increase of rats, which are a pest. Naturally, we have quite a number of cat lovers in our community; with good intentions they feed these cats that are free to roam around our corridors. Consequently, they have grown obese and lazy and have lost the appetite to hunt or ran after rodents.

Using this story as an illustration, could it be the reason why at times we seem not to get the desires of our hearts? As Christians we believe and pray as we know that our prayers are heard; thus, answered.² But the answer may not necessarily be as we want it. Why is this? Yes, God is love.³ Yes, God is good.⁴ He will never forsake us.⁵ Precisely, for his will is not merely good, but good and acceptable and perfect.⁶ He doesn’t do random! He calls us for a purpose—to do good works for God (not for our salvation) for his glory. What may be the good works?

The bible teaches much about fruit. Last year, we delved on the topic, “Abide.” Particularly, abiding in Jesus.⁷ I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.⁸ We are familiar with the fruit of the Spirit.⁹ Interestingly, the fruit is in singular form. We know that we cannot force a plant nor a tree to bear fruit; in due season, if the soil is cared for, it simply does. Yet, compare the operative verbs used in context, Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.¹⁰ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.¹¹ These are action verbs—highly improbable that implies to bearing the fruit of the Spirit but an expected evidence or result of it. What fruit could it be?

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.¹² The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.¹³ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”¹⁴

The promise is contingent to the premise—doing, sending out, going, loving, capturing souls. By abiding, we gain more knowledge of God’s attributes. We gain experiential knowledge of the Truth. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!¹⁵

Our prayer for you is that you be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.¹⁶ AMEN!