Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4 NIV)
I took my first ride in a self-driving car in August a year ago. The roads were clear, the cars were few, and the car owner was in the driver’s seat, so aside from knowing he was not controlling the driving, the ride was much like any other. The “autopilot” functions of the car worked well and we arrived at our destination safely.
I believe local congregations can sometimes slip into “autopilot” mode. When that happens, the often-heard “We’ve always done it this way” can become more common than “What is God calling us to do today?”
As I was reading about the First Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s, I wondered how much of the Church had fallen into this kind of spiritual autopilot. Pastors such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield played important roles in calling people away from nominal Christianity and toward personal repentance, conversion, and genuine faith in Christ. As people responded to this challenge, repented, and experienced spiritual renewal, they were discipled in their local churches. Their changed lives began to transform their communities. New believers and those growing in their faith were equipped to share the good news of Jesus and to model holiness in their daily lives.
The First Great Awakening reminds us that when people and churches move beyond spiritual complacency and respond to God’s call, the impact can reach far beyond the church walls and help transform an entire nation.
Autopilot is easy. Staying deeply connected to the Vine, led by the Holy Spirit, and engaged to make a Kingdom difference in the world? Not so much.
Jesus warned us:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:1-3 NIV)
and
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:14-20 NIV)
Today, let us pray that each believer and each congregation will not be on spiritual autopilot, but will be awake and alive to where the Lord is calling us to go.
God,
We your people hear your Voice and your calling to be Salt and Light in this world. We thank you for your ever-present help in all times and places, and we pray for every member of every local church within your global Church. We recognize that those you love you rebuke and discipline, so we repent of our lukewarmness and our indifference to you and your ways. We ask that your Spirit to stir within us so we move into the New you have for us. Help each believer to seek you first, remain deeply connected to you, the Vine, and to bear spiritual fruit. We pray that you would not find your church living on autopilot, but living out the deeds that are unfinished in your sight. Awaken us so our changed lives change our communities, this nation, and our world for your Good, we pray in Jesus’s name. AMEN.