Living Vines: Intimacy That Produces Eternity
There’s a difference between building an empire and building the Kingdom.
Let me start with a gentle disclaimer: I have nothing against marketing strategies, social media presence, or even big churches. In fact, when these things are surrendered to the Lord, they can become powerful tools to advance the Gospel.
But what I’m writing about today—like much of what I write—is about something far deeper: the condition and motives of the heart.
It’s possible to look successful in the eyes of men, and yet bear no lasting fruit in the eyes of God. It’s possible to build a platform, gain followers, and still be spiritually barren. Why? Because Jesus was very clear:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
— John 15:4 (NKJV)
What does it mean to abide?
The word “abide” in Greek is menō (Strong’s G3306), and it means:
To remain, stay, dwell
To continue to be present
To be held and kept continually
To endure or persevere under trial
Abiding isn’t a one-time visit to God’s presence. It’s a continuous posture of the heart—a life of remaining in Him. It’s drawing life daily from the Vine—Jesus Himself.
It’s not just obedience. It’s fellowship in pursuit. We pursue Him not just in works, but in love, in waiting, in surrender, in wonder.
The scripture that causes the fear of the Lord in me the most is when Jesus looked at His disciples and said:
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
— Matthew 7:22–23 (NKJV)
That means there will be people who literally raise the dead, heal the sick, and cast out demons—who will not enter heaven. Why? For one reason alone: “They didn’t know Jesus.”
They did things for Him but never walked with Him.
Jesus never said, “You’ll know them by how many miracles they perform or how beautifully they preach or the size of their following or bank account.”
He said, “You will know them by their fruit.”
(Matthew 7:16)
And there’s only one way to bear fruit: by abiding in Him.
Abiding is not performance—it’s surrender.
I used to think my pursuit of God meant that I was doing all the chasing. I ran hard after Him, believing the more I did, the more I’d find Him.
But then I discovered something beautiful.
He was chasing me all along.
I just had to stop, look, abide, wait, and let Him catch me.
When you fall in love instead of being religious you will discover His Word is Who He is. Reading His Word becomes a delight as your heart races with excitement to simply know Him and to discover more of Him.
Reading your Bible becomes a pursuit of knowing Him - not a gaining of information so you can look clever.
Oh I have met many ministers of the Gospel who know scripture better than me who have beautiful sermons but they have no love. It's not the beautiful sermons or the eloquence that someone ministers with, it is the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control that is reflected in their lives.
When Jesus catches you—when you finally let Him wrap you in His presence—you discover the deepest truth of all:
He is everything.
Not ministry.
Not recognition.
Not your followers.
Just Jesus.
Abiding.
Knowing.
Loving.
Being loved.
From that place, the real fruit comes—and it remains.
Abide dear one for He is returning soon.
All my Love
Jacqueline Coverly
