The author says, "These words work in us even when we do not understand them." But according to Jesus' own explanation of his parable of the sower (Matt. 13:18-23), bearing fruit does depend on understanding.

And here are a few Bible verses that encourage behavior that is not a passive response to the Word, but deliberate:

"Blessed is the man [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night." Psalm 1:1-2 ESV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Matt. 7:24 ESV

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For ... the one who [is] no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." James 1:22-24 ESV

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.... For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:3-8 ESV

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Cor. 15:58 ESV

So we have peace with God because of his grace in Christ
(Romans 5:1, Col. 1:13)
and
we aspire to bear fruit in this life because of his grace in Christ
(John 15:8, Eph. 2:10, Col. 1:10, 1 Peter 2:9, Titus 2:14).