This too is the reason Jesus said that if we love God, we would love our neighbours. John further commented that how can a person who profess to love God not love his neighbour whom he sees? In other words, how can someone say that he truly love God and not love his neighbour who is made in the image of God? Love is an action word, not an adjective. It is doing, it is being and it is reflecting God into this world. The main reason why we have so many admonitions to love is because our nature is to hate others, even sometimes to hate ourselves. Our minds have become futile because of the fall. Only the blood of Christ can cleanse our conscience from guilt and only by love built on this are we secure.

If we say that we have faith but we don’t have love, something clearly is missing; this is faith that is noisy, boisterous and in danger of falling to the precipice. This is the reason why gifts are not the measurement of man or his ministry, but it is by his fruit that we shall know him. In the natural, a mango tree will also bear a mango fruit and not a santol fruit. Because fruiting does not come by exerting effort but controlled by the age of a tree and the season that it is in, men also bear fruit in due season for who they are. Those who continue to abide in the Lord will soon bear His image and those who are waxing great to destruction that of the destroyer.

"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” So then, you will know them by their fruits. Matt 7:16-20

Fruit proceeds from the tree itself and so does everyone who is Christ-like will also bear His fruit. This is also the reason why it is written that we are not to be sluggish but imitate those who through faith and patience obtained the promises of God (Heb 6:12). The nature of this fruit that Christ is looking is “the fruit of the light which consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:9). We are admonished to constantly bear fruit in righteousness and to increase in our fruit (Col 1:6), and these are good works and increased knowledge in God (Col 1:10) by trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Good works that Paul refers here is not only attending church, praying and seeking the goodness of our pastor, priest or friend but also offering help and services to those who need us. I am always thankful of the many who I could not full well remember their names but God used them to attend to our needs when I had none to help. Their faith has been demonstrated by the help they extended to us. Moreover is this not the exhortation of Polycarp to the Philippians? Wherefore he wrote: When you can do good, defer it not, because “alms delivers from death.” (Tobit 4:10, 12:9) Be all of you subject one to another, (1 Pet. 5:5) having your conduct blameless among the Gentiles,” (1 Pet. 2:12) that ye may both receive praise for your good works, and the Lord may not be blasphemed through you.”

To realize our faith, let us not be lazy but continue to use our gifts and resources to help those whom we can and extend everything that we could for their salvation. This exhortation does not only work for the pastors but it is relevant to everyone because faith is not categorized into social stratifications but works for everyone. Therefore if you are a painter, why not paint the paradise, the themes of the Bible, and express your faith in what you are doing? Or if you a writer, why not write those issues that pertain to the heart of God or His Kingdom and His righteousness? Or if a preacher, why not preach timely teachings that can make a difference in the lives of others? Or if a janitor, why not clean as though Jesus will come and visit your premises today? Or if a businessman, why not try to diversify and multiply your gift by adding more and employing hundreds?

This is also faith that is expressed in the practical. Just as Jesus touched the blind, the broken-hearted, the hungry and the leper, our faith should practically include touching these areas in our community. Our ministry should not be limited by what our church denomination tells but what the Spirit tells us to do as clearly mandated in the Scriptures and as we are directed by Him. Doing God’s will is not writing on the water, or following a ghost; it has a basis, direction, goal or purpose which may not be so clear at first but as we take heed of His voice, the mandate and vision clarifies. Fools don’t display as much their folly in a crowd as when they are alone and know nothing to do.

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb 6:11-12