7 effective ways to share your faith in one week
by Andrew Chamberlin

Sunday: Rest on the Rock
As he rested in the crack of a mountain, Moses experienced God’s glory (Ex. 33:5-7). He received the assurance of the presence of God and was able to confidently step forward in his labor for Israel. Exhausted, discouraged and afraid for his life, Elijah was led to a cave on Horeb, “the mountain of God.” The great prophet was struggling to see the worth of all his efforts and felt as though he was alone in his labor for the Lord. God told him to stand outside the cave so the glory of the God of Israel could pass him by. As Elijah stood still on the mountain, God shattered the rocks, made the earth shake, and brought fire onto the scene. Finally, after the display of great power, God gently spoke to his servant in a still, quiet voice.

After predicting his death for the first time, Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a mountain to pray. Standing on the mountain, the three men witnessed the glory of God. The disciples experienced one of the most powerful round table discussions of all time. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were all having a conversation about Christ’s departure, the fulfillment of prophecy. Then, as a cloud appeared, all the men went silent and God Almighty began to speak.

We know that at any moment in the next six days something could go wrong. It was Jesus himself who clearly stated, “in this world you will have trouble.” With horrible timing, the car could reveal it’s true identity as a lemon, the kids could be misplaced somewhere between Friday and the present, and the utter destruction of a shift change at work could rudely disrupt our rituals. With all the pressures, demands and obligations of the week ahead, sometimes we need to just quietly step out onto the ledge of a mountain so God can speak to us as we rest in His identity. E.H. Hopkins, hits the nail on the head stating, “True activity is that which springs out of, and is ever accompanied by, rest. It is only as we know what it is to be ‘still,’ that we are ready to ‘go forward.’ We rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go.”

Monday: Carry Someone’s Cross
The weight of the timber on Jesus’ back increased with every step as he passed each face in the crowd. With each face came every sin and we all stood in the crowd watching as the burden was pressed down upon him making every print in the sand deeper than the first. The Roman execution would not have been genuine if Jesus had died before reaching Golgotha so the soldiers forced a man named Simon to carry the cross for Christ. Jesus could have used the power of the Almighty to carry the cross; however, it was in the act of giving up his majesty that he had to carry the burden. Even the gruesome depiction of Jesus body in the modern masterpiece, “The Passion of The Christ,” does not compare to what was seen. The look on the faces in the crowd would have told all for it was as Isaiah said, “his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness.” Simon temporarily carried the cross but never truly experienced the weight of the burden.

One man spots another with heavy stuff in the gym. It’s not exactly what Paul meant when he wrote the second verse in Galatians chapter 6. However, next time a man needs a hand pushing weight up off his chest, pull from the heart. Paul is teaching us to carry people in regard to life and all it’s trouble. He is teaching us to be a guide to truth, to give counsel, to listen, and to have compassion. Whether its someone who has lost their job, or someone who has lost the reason for living, with both hands get a good grip on the bar, and pull.

Tuesday: Wash Someone’s Feet
Imagine the feet of men who have traveled countless miles down dusty Palestinian roads on slim beds of hot crusty leather. The stench and sight of such feet would be similar to what we find today in any random men’s locker room. In the opening scene of John chapter 13 we find Jesus with His disciples preparing for an infamous meal. Out of complete voluntary abasement, Jesus sets aside His garments and prepares to wash the feet of these twelve ordinary men. In the past, the task was identified as being the vocation of a servant (1 Samuel 25:41). A tent maker (Paul) once wrote that the same occupation was written on the heart of his Optometrist (Christ) stating, “he emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7). Standing in the place of the common servant, Jesus displays his condescending love for both us and his disciples in an act of humility that would later be painted on the canvases of artists all over the world.

The CEO of the company loosens his tie, rolls up his sleeves and gets back on the ladder that led to success. Hitting each rung back down the ladder, he passes his secretaries, advisors, and directors. As he steps off the last rung onto the basement floor of his company, the humble leader takes the broom from the man on the bottom and finishes the day in his place. Further, instead of sending the man home, the successful businessman says, “before you take the rest of the day off, there’s lobster and wine on my desk for lunch, enjoy the climb.”

Wednesday: Spend the night in the garden

Olives, when pressed, produce oil that can be found in soap and soothing agents. When pressed by the fashions of the enemy, Jesus often slipped away to kneel near a specific gathering of trees, a silent grove called Gethsemane. The validation and the frequent communion with His Father soothed the stirring faculties of the soul of this Lamb in preparation. Each moment Christ entered the garden, the olive trees must have trembled in silence as they overheard some of the most powerful conversations in history. It is the work of prayer that must be accomplished before each entrance into this world. We have been given both the permission and authority to do so as it is written in Hebrews: “come boldly unto the throne of grace.” Near the end of the Lamb’s ministry on the earth, He was pressed up against a tree by our sins and blood flowed out of His body. By His blood we are both cleansed and soothed and by His wounds we are healed.

Jesus prayed all night. Daniel prayed three times a day. Prayer is when the fuse for the car radio is pulled and fired out the window so in silence, we can speak aloud to God. It means putting the hockey scores down for a minute with your pants wrapped around your ankles in the john, and letting the spirit of the Lord speak in the silence of our heart. Finally, spending the night in prayer is when we push our suits aside and throw our dress shoes over our shoulders, shut the closet door, and delight in the Lord with unceasing meditations.