What Then

“Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” — Luke 3:9

When the crowds came to John the Baptist, they didn’t argue or defend themselves. After being called a brood of vipers, they asked a piercing and humble question: “What then should we do?” (Luke 3:10)

It’s the right question. When confronted with the truth, we can either walk away or let it shape us.

John’s answer is clear—bear fruit. But how?

Here’s the tension: we’re called to bear fruit, but we aren’t the ones who make it grow. It’s God who gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:7).

So what’s our part?

I’m reminded of a phrase often used in sports: process over outcome.

You can do everything right—train hard, stay disciplined, take the perfect swing—and still get out. In baseball, a 120 mph line drive can go straight into a glove. The result is out of your hands.

So it is with the spiritual life. We can’t control outcomes. We can’t make fruit appear on command.

But we can control the process.

We can choose daily faithfulness—prayer, repentance, kindness, perseverance. We can show up. We can say yes to the work God is doing in us, even when we don’t see immediate results.

Our job is to stay rooted. His job is the fruit.

So when you ask, “What then should I do?”—start there. Stay rooted in Christ. Let His Word shape your habits. Let His Spirit water your heart.

And trust: the fruit will come.