Welcome to the Face-to-Face episode titled "Good Root, Good Fruit." Let's explore the heart of Jesus's teaching titled "A Tree and its Fruit" found in Matthew 7:16-19.

In this teaching, Jesus gives us permission to recognize people's true selves by the fruits they produce. Just as grapes do not come from thorn bushes and figs do not emerge from thistles, every healthy tree yields good fruit, while a corrupt tree produces bad fruit. It is a fundamental truth that a good tree cannot produce harmful fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. The fruit reflects the core essence or root of the tree. This principle applies to people as well. If someone is on a self-improvement program, their root is a root of lack, and the fruit they produce will poison every soul with the idea of becoming excellent, smart, lovable, self-directed, and so on. In other words, their sense of lack is the root, and they try to gain strength through self-help methods like gaining, growing, gathering, and maturing. Such people have souls that feel lacking and try to prove their love for God by obeying a trillion commandments, most of which are not found in the Bible.

On the other hand, the root of trust proves that you know who has it all and desires to reproduce His fruit of trust, rest, and love through you. This root of trust produces fruit by resting from one's trying. You are not the magical element needed to produce love, joy, peace, patience, and other fruits of the Spirit. Your showing up to life empty of effort lets Him show up with having and sharing all that you need for life and godliness. The good fruit of love comes from the root of trust.