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“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.”
— Hebrews 10:22

Friday has always been a sacred threshold.
From the first sunset in Eden to the day when Christ rested in the tomb, Preparation Day has invited God’s people to pause—to prepare not only their homes but their hearts for Sabbath rest and renewal.

Drawing Near

The writer of Hebrews calls us to “draw near.”
Those words echo the sanctuary, where priests approached God through cleansing and faith. But now, because of Jesus, our great High Priest, we are invited beyond the veil—into the very presence of God.
We come not with the blood of goats or lambs, but through the perfect blood of Christ, who intercedes for us even now in the heavenly sanctuary.

To draw near is not merely to speak a prayer—it is to come close with confidence, believing that grace welcomes us and forgiveness restores us.

Our Hearts Sprinkled Clean

The call to have our “hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” reaches back to the ancient sacrificial system, where the priest would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice upon the altar, the mercy seat, and even upon the people. Each drop symbolized forgiveness, cleansing, and restored fellowship.

Now, through Christ’s ministry, this symbol has become reality. His own blood cleanses not our garments or our bodies, but our conscience—our inner awareness of guilt and alienation.

To have our hearts sprinkled is to let the truth of the gospel soak deep into the soul until shame is silenced and the assurance of grace takes root. It is to accept, by faith, that Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient. There is no sin too dark, no failure too recent, that His blood cannot cleanse.

So on Preparation Day, the greatest preparation is not external but internal. It is the cleansing of the conscience—the quiet surrender of the heart that says, “Lord, I believe Your blood is enough.”

Preparing for Rest

As this day unfolds, let every task—whether cooking, cleaning, planning, or pausing—become an act of worship.
Preparation Day is not about perfect order but about intentional surrender. Each moment of readiness is a way of saying:

“I can rest, because God still reigns.”

Whether you read these words as the sun rises, as it sets, or long after this day has passed, the invitation remains the same:
to pause, to prepare, and to draw near to the heart of God.

When we keep Sabbath this way, we live out the gospel. We cease from our own works, trusting fully in the finished work of Christ. We rest not because everything is done, but because He has done enough.

Renewed by Grace

The Sabbath is God’s invitation to breathe again—to remember who He is and who we are in Him.
It is the weekly reminder that our worth is not in what we accomplish but in being loved and made clean.

So whenever you come to this moment—whether morning, evening, or a future Friday—let your heart be sprinkled anew with grace.
Let forgiveness replace frustration, and gratitude replace hurry.
Enter the Sabbath not weary from the world, but washed and ready, confident in the assurance of faith and the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.

Blessings in Jesus’ Name,
Tom Nicholas, Pastor
We are a Holy Spirit-filled church family, where every member engages deeply, serves faithfully, and reaches our community for Christ.

📖 The Story of the Friday Light

It was Friday afternoon, and sunlight was spilling through the kitchen window at the Martinez house.
Mom was baking bread, Dad was finishing chores, and ten-year-old Eli was on dish duty.

“Remember,” Mom called, “Preparation Day means getting ready to rest!”

Eli sighed as he scrubbed a sticky bowl. “I know, I know… everything clean before Sabbath.”
He didn’t mind helping—but this week had been hard. He’d said some mean things at school, and even though he’d told his friend sorry, the guilt still sat like mud in his heart.

When Grandma came in, she noticed his frown.
“Looks like someone’s carrying more than dirty dishes,” she said kindly.

Eli looked down. “I messed up this week. I don’t feel ready for Sabbath.”

Grandma smiled and pointed out the window, where the sun was starting to dip low. “Do you know why we clean on Fridays?”

Eli shrugged. “So the house looks nice?”

“That’s part of it,” Grandma said. “But it’s really about making room. Just like we sweep away the crumbs, God wants to sweep away the things that clutter our hearts.”

She opened her worn Bible and read softly,

“Let us draw near to God with a true heart, having our hearts sprinkled clean.”

Eli blinked. “Sprinkled? Like rain?”

Grandma laughed. “Something like that! Long ago, priests sprinkled the altar with blood to show that sins were forgiven. But Jesus doesn’t sprinkle us with water or blood—He cleans our hearts with His love.”

Eli thought for a moment, still holding the dish towel. “So… Jesus washes my heart like I wash these dishes?”

“Exactly,” Grandma said. “He doesn’t just make the outside shine. He makes the inside new. And when you believe that—really believe it—you can rest.”

Eli smiled slowly. “Even if I messed up?”

“Even then,” Grandma said. “That’s what Preparation Day is for—getting ready to rest in Jesus, not in your own goodness.”

The kitchen was quiet for a moment except for the sound of bubbling bread in the oven.
Then Eli said softly, “Hey Grandma?”

“Yes, dear?”

“I think my heart’s getting clean already.”

Grandma chuckled. “That’s the sound of grace doing its work.”

Later that evening, when the sun finally slipped behind the hills, the family gathered around the table. The bread was warm, the candles glowed, and peace seemed to fill every corner of the house.

Eli took a deep breath and whispered,
“Thank You, Jesus… my heart is ready.”

And somewhere unseen, heaven smiled—because one small boy had learned what it really means to draw near.