September 9, 2026
There are things we cannot carry into the next season.
Old habits. Past mistakes. Unhealthy patterns. Broken relationships. Sometimes moving forward begins with recognizing what needs to be left behind.
In this Faith Class, Bishop Leon Benjamin continues the series on The God of Mercy, turning to Leviticus 16 and the biblical Day of Atonement to explore a powerful truth: God provides a way for His people to return, be cleansed, and begin again.
Leviticus 16 describes a sacred time when the people of Israel were called to humble themselves before God and seek atonement.
Bishop Benjamin connects this practice with the season surrounding Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—a period traditionally associated with reflection, repentance, and returning to God.
The principle extends beyond a particular season. There is value in regularly examining our lives and asking: What needs to change?
Repentance is more than feeling sorry about the past.
Bishop Benjamin describes it as a change of mind and direction—an opportunity to recognize what is no longer serving God’s purpose and make a deliberate turn.
Sometimes that involves spiritual habits. Other times, it may involve relationships, priorities, health, or patterns we have carried for years.
Real change begins when we become willing to turn.
Leviticus describes the people as “afflicting” or humbling themselves.
Bishop Benjamin uses this idea to discuss the role of humility in transformation. Before something can change, we often have to acknowledge that our current direction is not where we want to remain.
Humility creates space to listen, reflect, and allow God to show us what needs attention.
One of the strongest themes of the lesson is simple: some things have to be released before we can move forward.
Israel had been delivered from Egypt, yet the past continued to influence them.
Bishop Benjamin uses their story as a reminder that freedom from something and freedom within ourselves are not always the same thing. Old habits and familiar patterns can remain difficult to release even after we know they no longer belong in our lives.
Mercy gives us another opportunity to let them go.
At the center of Leviticus 16 is atonement.
Under the Old Testament covenant, the high priest made atonement for the people once each year. Bishop Benjamin connects this practice to the New Testament and Christ’s sacrifice, emphasizing the Christian understanding that Jesus provides what the repeated sacrifices ultimately pointed toward.
The message moves from continually trying to earn forgiveness toward receiving the mercy God has already offered.
God can also use relationships as instruments of change.
Some people enter our lives for a reason, others for a season, and others remain for a lifetime.
Bishop Benjamin encourages believers to value relationships that challenge them to grow, recognize what needs to change, and move toward the person God is calling them to become.
The principles of repentance and renewal can become deeply personal.
Our relationships. Our habits. Our priorities. Our health. Our work. Our spiritual lives.
Rather than waiting until everything falls apart, Bishop Benjamin encourages regular reflection: God, show me what needs to change and help me make it right.
Our choices will not always be perfect.
But failure does not have to become the end of the story.
God’s mercy gives us an opportunity to repent, receive forgiveness, learn, and move forward differently.
The invitation is not to remain trapped by yesterday.
It is to let go, return to God, and keep moving forward.
