Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3, John 1:15-34: Does your faith produce action? In our passages today John the Baptist was preaching repentance then his instruction to the people was to produce fruit in keeping with that repentance. When they asked further here was the instruction.
Luke 3:10And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics3:11 is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
The idea of bearing fruit was followed up by Jesus in John 15 when He taught His followers to stay attached to the Vine and bear much fruit. That fruit is seen just as John described through actions. Feed the hungry, care for the hurting, cloth the naked, these are all things we can do, but can I add to the list? Speak words of kinds, give a blessing instead of a curse, pay for the groceries of someone who has lost a job, don’t say something on facebook that you know will be controversial or comment on someone’s statement that will cause discord. There are so many ways we can act out our faith that brings glory to God. Ask God to reveal to you how to bear fruit today. The end result is that people will not only hear your words, but see your actions and know your faith is real.