Zechariah 13: 1-9
July 20th 2025, Third Holy Day of the Month
Rev. Tadashi Nagae, Pastor
Let us learn two things we should have in mind.
The first is that the fountain of purification is open. We can say that it s the time of the redemption by Jesus, and also the time of the Jewish repentance, which we learned last week.
One is the cleansing of sins. When we believe in Christ as our Savior, our sins are cleansed and we are justified. Those who are not yet saved need to believe in Christ and be saved. The other is the cleansing of spiritual impurities. Christians are saved, but the LORD wants us to be cleansed every day. It is important for us to be cleansed every day by the work of the Holy Spirit and to become more like Christ.
The second is to be cleansed by the trials that God gives us. In the last days, the Jews will repent in the midst of suffering and confess Christ as the Lord. We can see from the Bible that the trials God gives us are blessings. They also make our faith pure.
It's because the LORD loves us that He sometimes gives us trials. He refines us and tests us. Let trials make our faith pure.
<聖書のことば>
And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my n ame, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”
Zechariah 1 3 : 9 (English Standard Version)
