There is one area of my life that is not that way.
I am so thankful God brought BSF into my life over 12 years ago! Through this study, He has brought me back from the pit and restored my relationship with Him. Not only restored but He has made it more than I ever could have imagined! And He's not finished yet!!
Because of the work God does through BSF I have learned how absolutely vital it is for me to study His Word every day of my life! If I have a day (which usually ends up being more than one) when I don't spend time with Him, I am wondering what in the world is going on?? Well, duh....... it finally dawns on me.....I haven't talked or listened to my Lord!
BSF is set up to study God's Word daily. It teaches how to study and understand and apply God's Word to our daily lives. It has amazed me over the years how many times what I am studying is exactly applicable to the things going on in my life.
I have been a children's leader for going on 3 years now. I started out as a group leader four years ago, then was asked to lead children. I adore children! They are so eager to learn and amazingly able to understand and apply God's Word in ways I struggle with.
As a children's leader, I have learned so much more than I ever thought possible. I have to know the lesson before I can teach it. The time spent preparing is exciting, fulfilling and very hard sometimes. The same lesson the children study, I study. I also study my own adult lesson. The only way any of this is possible for me is through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He gives me the desire, the time, the understanding, and how to teach it to the children in a way they will understand.
This to me is another aspect of God's grace. By His grace I am able to spend the time I need preparing for this work He has given me to do. By His grace He has allowed me to work with children. I love children!
This week we studied Leviticus 16. We are studying the life of Moses this year. In this chapter, God gives Moses explicit instructions for Aaron in how he is to approach God. Leviticus 16 is about the day of Atonement. God instructed Israel to observe this day once a year. The people were to deny themselves and focus on God for the whole day. No work, no play, no food.... As the people fasted and prayed, the high priest was making atonement for their sins. The detail in exactly how the priest was to do this is amazing. And mind boggling! Until I wrote it all down to use as a teaching tool for our children, I hadn't grasped just how much there was. I'm not going into detail, it would be really long..please read it for yourself and maybe take notes and write down each detail. You will be amazed.
Why do we need to know this? We teach the children how this applies to their lives today.
The day of atonement was for the Israelites as they looked forward to the coming Jesus.
Jesus has fulfilled all the requirements God demanded be met for His people to be forgiven of sin. Before Jesus, sacrifices had to be made, atonement made exactly as God specified.
Jesus is the atonement for our sins. He is God's sacrificial lamb. Once for all time. God made Jesus the scapegoat by putting all our sins on Him at the cross. Jesus was perfect, unblemished, sacrificed, died and then rose again! Conquering death! Praise God!!!
Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
All we have to do is accept Him. Have you come to Jesus? Do you know Him as your Savior? Have you admitted you are a sinner in need of forgiveness of your sins? Ask Jesus! He will accept you just the way you are right now. No sacrifice, nothing you have to do. Just ask. Then accept.
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