“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” — Hebrews 10:22
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I arrived at the Toyota Center two hours before tip-off to do pregame chapel, but the typically sparse arena was unusually crowded. And then I realized why so many fans showed up extra early — the Lakers were in town and LeBron James was warming up. Fans were taking pictures of King James from afar and trying to get near him, but the court was off limits and security was tight.
As a chaplain, though, I have an all-access pass that allows me to go anywhere in the Toyota Center, including the court. So I walked on to the court as King James finished warming up, shook his hand, walked with him and invited him to chapel. I walked and talked with the “king” because I had access.
In the tabernacle the ancient Israelites built, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies once a year. He only had access once a year. But Jesus Christ has given us access to the holy place in Heaven through His blood. Hebrews 10:19-22 teaches us that Jesus, our High Priest, has given us an all-access pass to the throne room of God, the Heavenly Holy of Holies. We can walk and talk with our King. Christ is our High Priest who has given us all access to God’s throne room. We can approach the throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16).
So as you pray today, know that you’ve been given access. Walk and talk with your King.
— Ikki Soma, Houston Rockets chaplain
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