The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:19-25, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

The Apostle Paul was likely a grown man when he cited these “deeds of the flesh.” Doubtlessly, he understood them much earlier in life, yet not in the context of a Christian perspective. Now, as a committed believer in Jesus Christ, he offers the comparison between the “deeds of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit.”

An in-depth observation into the two concepts reveals that the deeds of the flesh number 15, while the fruit of the Spirit number but eight. Certainly, that’s not to say that evil outweighs good; but, it might be saying that there’s more evil out there to invade our lives than we might think. Still, I’m sure the Apostle didn’t have only numbers in mind when he wrote the words above.

What’s important is that the “deeds of the flesh” are normal for us until we’re converted into the life and manner of the LORD. From that point onward, the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit resides in us and His fruit, consisting of “love, joy, peace patience, kindness,” and all take root within us and we begin to resemble the LORD Jesus Christ.

It’s not easy to be a Christian. Yet, the results that come from fleshly deeds are not easy to deal with either. The fulcrum that differentiates the two is the LORD. And it is He who makes all things well. There will doubtlessly be those whom we will lose as friends, if we trust Christ and follow Him. Yet, when we move from Earth to Eternity, our spiritual friends will be our company. With whom do you want to spend eternity?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Matthew 22:34-40, “But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together.

35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

37 And He said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.

39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’

40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

It was a mixed group that gathered around Jesus: the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection, and the Sadducees vehemently denied it. (That’s why they were sad, you see.) We’re not told on what side the lawyer stood in that regard, but it could be that he sought to rationalize the difference between the two sides by asking, “…which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus’ response was all inclusive: “You shall love the LORD your God with all you heart, and with all you soul, and with all your mind.” Additionally, He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Essentially, both the Pharisees and the Sadducees needed to upgrade their love for their fellowman as well as their devotion to Almighty God! To be even more specific, it is impossible to affiliate with the LORD without loving Him. The same is true regarding a neighbor.

Many times I’ve witnessed someone, seeking to borrow something from a friend, only to have the friend say, “Oh, just keep it. I have another I can use.” Such were indeed attitudes of love. And attitude is what truly matters. “Things” can always be replicated down the line. A true friend always views the other person as more important. May the LORD help us to always be that true friend.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Galatians 6:1-8, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

5 For each one will bear his own load.

6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

When we were small, our parents instructed us in a variety of things. “Yes,” was always a welcome word; “no” was not. We are all born with the desire to do what we want whether or not it complies with the will of our parents or guardians. Paul, however, was writing to adults when he gave instruction regarding how we are to deal with those who are doing wrongfully. He notes that it is equally wrong for one to overlook his own life as he attempts to correct things in the life of another.

How real that is in the life of every generation! The attitude arises from the thought that one is always right, and the other is always wrong. It happens on the playing field; it happens in the home. It even happens in the confines of the church! Paul argues that such criticism is “self-deceptive.” Each person is responsible for his own actions and attitudes, so we must all be careful!

We are to be helpful, not merely critical. Criticism can be helpful, however, provided it is offered in a loving way. Teachers are required to be critical; otherwise, students would never learn to discern right from wrong. Scripture is often critical; but it is critical for our good. Thus, we ought to be certain that our criticism of others is for their good. If it is intended that way, it will be offered in a soft and pleasant manner that is always pleasing to the LORD!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Numbers 13:27-33, “Thus they told him, and said, ‘We went into the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

28 ‘Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.

29 ‘Amalek is living in the land of the Negev and the Hittites and the Jebusites and the Amorites are living in the hill country, and the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.’

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, ‘We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.’

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.’”

32 So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, ‘The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.

33 ‘There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.’”

Men quite often think more highly of themselves than they ought; but when men envision themselves as totally insignificant (like grasshoppers), they have lost sight not only of themselves, but of the LORD in whom they purport to believe and serve. There was not the slightest doubt in the collectivity of their minds that the land was luxuriously furnished with luscious fruit. Yet, the absence of hope was immediately smothered when the presence of enemies was discovered. Nevertheless, it was an unmasked reality of faithlessness when they designated themselves as “grasshoppers” by comparison.

Admit it or not, we’re more like the Israelites than we might think. How many obstacles do we encounter that we initially believe are clearly beyond our ability to overcome? The root of that unbelief is directly traceable to our lack of faith in Almighty God! What fails to occur in our timeframe, we tend to believe cannot occur at all. Just remember Caleb’s admonition: “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” And they did!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 John 4:7-11, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

If you’ve been watching closely, you’ve noticed what is missing in today’s society: love. Oh, yes, we greet one another, smile, perhaps ask about someone in the other’s family, who has recently been sick; but, it’s often a “Hail, Mary!” –and we’re gone.

Shopping used to be a time for genuine fellowship. I remember people talking so long that one or the other had virtually forgotten what they were looking for when they entered the store. I’ve seen people openly weep when they learned of the diagnosis of a mutual friend –things we too often view as fractionally important today.

True love – the love that originates from God – is the love that John insists that we have and should demonstrate toward others. Every true, born-again believer possesses that love. So, why does it not radiate within us, so that it is seen by others?

In some instances, we are simply focused on ourselves. (Oh, I didn’t ask about that. I was in a desperate hurry. The item I wanted to buy was on sale and I was afraid it would be sold before I got there!) How sad that “things” too often take precedence over people! One day, you and I will be the ones to experience being “short-sighted.” Think carefully on this.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom