Sabbath has always been one of the most beautiful days of the week for me. Every week, I look forward to it. It is the day I rest, not just physically and mentally, but most deeply, spiritually. Six days are usually filled with work, travel, conversations, noise, and movement. Life feels busy and scattered. But when Sabbath comes, I love to step away from many of those things and simply sit in God’s presence, listening to His Word.
One of the things I value most during Sabbath is disconnecting. Avoiding social media, scrolling, and endless reels that quietly steal attention. Instead, choosing stillness, choosing the Word of God. You know the peace that settles in my heart during those moments is hard to explain, and I find myself longing for it again and again.
As important as Sabbath itself is, the preparation for Sabbath has always carried deep meaning in my life. When I was young, my dad was very strict about Sabbath preparation. He’s a pastor, and Fridays were never casual at home. After school, my elder brother and I knew what was coming: it was cleaning. The house had to be in order before sunset. I usually clean the living room. My brother handled the heavier work. Our living room was big and filled with books. My dad loves books. Even now, when I visit him, I see the same books from my childhood still there. He still takes them out, reads them, and looks for references.
Cleaning those books was not easy. Every single one had to be taken out, dusted properly, and put back. Dad had hundreds, maybe thousands. As a kid, that felt like too much. Sometimes we tried to skip things, but somehow Dad always noticed, and when he did, there would be trouble. My brother had it harder. He had to clean rooms, bikes, and our bicycles too. I used to laugh at him, but he always did it quietly, without complaining.
Preparing for Sabbath is not just about cleaning the house. It’s about preparing your heart. Sabbath is something God Himself designed so we can rest from our daily work and focus on Him. Cleaning the house mattered, but what mattered more was learning discipline, reverence, and sincerity before God. As life moved on, things changed. College ended, started work, and we grew older. Dad became less strict. He trusted that we understood why these things mattered. But instead of growing deeper, some of those habits slowly faded. Physical preparation became occasional. But still, one thing never left me. It’s preparing the heart.
Even now, Friday nights are special for me. Sometimes I sit quietly and read. Sometimes I listen to sermons. One preacher I often listen to is Pastor Doug Batchelor. One of his sermons really stayed with me; it was called “The Unsinkable Ship.” He talked about the Titanic, not the movie, but what happened that night, and how a conversion experience can be the heart of the message. He mentioned a man named John Harper, and how he, even when sinking, did not panic but considered that moment to bring someone to Christ and turn that sinking ship into a mission field.
Conversion Experience
He mentioned a story that he read about of an old Scottish man. The old Scottish man was in the audience, and the preacher was preaching about John Harper and his final moments on the Titanic. This old Scottish man stood up and said, “I had been on the Titanic, let me tell you what happened?” I was drunk that night, holding onto a floating piece of wood in freezing water. There was a lot of noise, people crying, people dying in front of me. Then a wave came, and with it came this man, and he is John Harper. He asked me one question, “Are you saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Then the wave carried John away. After some time, another wave came, John Harper came again with it and asked the same question, “Are you saved? I replied, “I don’t know.” Then John replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Then one final wave came, John came again and asked, “Are you saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,” and the wave carried him away. Then another wave came by again, but John wasn’t there.
The old man said, “I was John Harper’s last convert.”
I cried listening to that, and I asked myself a hard question. What am I doing today, with all these comforts that I have right now, good food, good shelter, a house that protects us from rain and sun? Am I telling anyone about God’s love and His saving grace to anybody? Or am I choosing comfort, silence, and the excuse that God will handle it somehow?
My father was doing that work with us during Sabbath preparations. What we thought was strict discipline was actually preaching about God without words. He was teaching reverence, discipline, patience, sincerity, and respect. He was teaching us who God is, a God of order, holiness, and love.
How many of us drift away from the practices that once kept us close to God? And more importantly, what are we teaching our children today about faith, preparation, and God’s love? A man, at the edge of death, chose to say only one thing: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” That question still echoes today. Sometimes we say we are too busy, but often, we are just distracted. Ask God today to show you the person who needs love. He will show you and inspire you, and when He does, go with grace.
Friends, as you read this, remember this: you are special, you are God’s masterpiece. Will you tell someone about God’s love today? There are people around you who need it. Look after the needs of others, and when you do, your own needs will be satisfied and taken care of. You don’t have to judge others, but always show genuine love. Your smile can be a testimony. Your care can open a heart. Your presence, your time, and your listening ear can quietly point someone to Christ.
Finally, let me say this simply and clearly: God loves you. God cares for you, and through you, He wants others to know that same love.