The Unexpected Journey – Part #1

I was walking up to Ridge Point’s Main Campus this weekend and picturing all the changes that have taken place in almost nine years – increased ministry space, attendance, impact and vision. God has been active in our lives and Jesus’ church in major ways over the years. Ridge Point has grown in grace and wisdom, I have grown in submission and obedience and I pray you have been growing to think, love, serve and live more and more like Jesus.

When God is providing such hope and peace we never consider things will change, or maybe we hope they won’t. It is in those times that we might become complacent and comfortable – failing to seek the radical things God might be calling us to. God wants us to experience fullness that we can never imagine and adventure that can only come when we are living on the edge of our faith.

Over the past six months God has been challenging me with a ministry opportunity I have been resisting. Chuck Colson from Prison fellowship spoke to me last December and challenged me to think about God’s calling to a national ministry to inmates, their families, ex-inmates returning to society and juveniles who were destined for prison but had time to choose another path. I didn’t think the challenge was for me and I placed it “on the back burner” feeling as though God had called me to Ridge Point until I retired.

God would not let it rest. In many ways I have grown more spiritually in the past six months than in the last six years. I wrestled with God in prayer. I told Him “no” over and over. I final submitted to be interviewed by Prison Fellowship’s search team with full intent in my heart to “get it over with” and move ahead with all the things God is presenting to Ridge Point. God had other plans – He wouldn’t let me just move on. He was calling me.

On the Monday after Easter Sunday I began to prepare for the next weekend. The Scripture was John chapter 21 and is the account of Jesus reinstating Peter as the leader of the Early Church following Peter’s denial and subsequent abandonment of the movement Jesus started. Jesus finds Peter and the Disciples back “home” fishing – all the friends together having returned to the familiar. I had never really personalized Jesus first question to Peter. Jesus asks Peter, “Peter, do you love me more than these?” Jesus was talking about Peter friends – those who saw Peter as their leader and guide and had followed him back to the fishing boat. Peter declares, “Yes!”

I heard the Spirit personalized that Scripture to me. “Jim, do you love Jesus more than Ridge Point and Ridge Pointers?” I was startled by my inability to answer that question immediately. In tears I had to admit that I had arrived at a place in my heart where I loved Pointers and this ministry so much that it overshadowed my ability to immediately shout, “Yes, Lord – I love you more than anything.” It was at that point that everything changed and I knew what Jesus was leading me to do. I needed to follow Him only, and if He was leading me to lead Prison Fellowship I needed to obey.     

That is not a comfortable question to hear the Spirit of God ask you nor is a comfortable image to have Jesus looking you in the eye – lovingly and passionately – and inquiring of your deepest commitments. I was in a conundrum – I was supposed to love the Church of Jesus I was serving and was called to. I was thrilled to love those Jesus had given me the privilege to serve and lead. Can one love too much? Can one turn something very right into an idol? I had to admit – I had done exactly that. I had to confess to Jesus – I loved my church and those I serve and journey with more than I loved Him. That has now changed. I have fallen in love with Jesus all over again. It is fresh and new and deep and wide. A few months ago I could see what I thought God was going to be doing in a few months – I was comfortable. Now, I have no Idea. I like it this way better.

Today I looked at Ridge Point’s building again as I came in. I can see what it will be. Not the bricks and mortar and windows and lights. The people – the followers of Jesus who have experienced forgiveness and renewal and a love for Jesus that trumps all else. Ridge Point will bring hope and peace to the Lakeshore as never before as we follow the Spirit around this corner.

By the way, if Jesus were to ask you if you loved Him more than your friends and the things you find familiar - possessions, vacations, family, your plans, comfort and stability, sure success – what would you say? Can you tell Jesus you love Him more than anything?