It should be clear for anyone who reads the Bible that God cares about good works. He intends that the good works that come from a relationship with Him, will reveal Him to people around us. Jesus had a lot to say to us about good works, or fruitfulness, so let's listen to a important passage from the Book of John:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts away every branch of Mine that doesn't produce fruit. But He trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already clean because of what I have said to you. Stay joined to Me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the Vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to Me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without Me. (John 15:1-5)

John begins this passage by saying that Jesus is the True Vine and the Father is "the Gardner." He goes on to explain how the Father, "cuts away every branch…that doesn't produce fruit” and “He trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit." So, if we don't produce fruit, God prunes us. And, if we do produce fruit, guess what? That's right—He prunes us! Fruit or no fruit, pruning is part of a life with God, our Gardner. Then Jesus warns, "Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to Me. If you stay joined to Me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit." God the Father is looking for fruit that comes from a living, vital, and ongoing relationship with his Son. This passage ends with Jesus’ sober note: "But you cannot do anything without me." Or, as another translation reads, "Apart from Me you can do nothing." Nothing. Apart from a living, vital and ongoing relationship with Jesus, we can’t bear fruit.

How about you today? Are you actively seeking to be joined to Jesus, the True Vine? He has promised you and He has promised me that when we are joined to Him, we will produce good fruit and lots of it...and that is very Good News!