today's word

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate, says the LORD of hosts. Strike the shepherd that the sheep may be dispersed, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. In all the land, says the LORD, two thirds of them shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left. I will bring the one third through fire, and I will refine them as silver is refined, and I will test them as gold is tested. They shall call upon my name, and I will hear them. I will say, “They are my people,” and they shall say, “The LORD is my God.” - Zechariah 13:7-9 …God is speaking about believers here: of all the people who take up his name, only one third of them will he hear them testify that they are his people. The gate is narrow and the way is hard (Mat 7:12). Three-fourths of those who accepted the Word the Sower sowed were not harvested (Mat 13:18-23). The master allows the sheep and wheat to grow with the goats and weeds but he will separate them (Mat 13: 24-30, 25:31-46) and many who call him Lord will hear him say, “I never knew you” (Mat 7:22-23). Jesus said that the fruit of our lives will bear witness to whether or not we truly belong to him (Mat 7:18-20; Heb 6:7-8). Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to examine our lives (Phil 2:12, 2 Pe 1:10; 1 Jn 3:17-20) to ensure that we are not deceiving ourselves into thinking we walk the narrow path when we have entered the broad gate.

wishing you a splendid, blessed weekend ahead.

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A blessed splendid weekend De Clerk!!

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Amen

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Thanks. Have a nice weekend too,

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Amen. The testing of true believers

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