The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 7:3-10, ”Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.’ Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’

5 “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor,

6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin,

7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

8 “Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail.

9 “Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known,

10 then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’– that you may do all these abominations?

11 “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the LORD.”

If you think the LORD is having trouble with the church today, you need to think again. Having trouble with people is hardly new to the LORD. The opening words in the passage above (“Amend your ways…”) are indicative of trouble within the LORD’s people. Look at the wrongful deeds of which He speaks: deceptive words…wrongful deeds…injustice…oppression of both aliens and orphans…worship of other gods…trusting in deceptive words…theft, murder, adultery – and the list stretches onward! All of these were an abomination to the LORD.

Now, look at many who claim to be part of His church, yet are thieves, haters of others, adulterers, liars, servers of other gods of multiple covert names. Yet, the Church is the LORD’s House! It is where His Person and Word are to be extolled! For if the Church lacks reverence inside, where corporate worship occurs, what can be expected elsewhere? Pray for the Church!

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,

Isaiah 43:10-13, “’You are My witnesses,’ declares the LORD, And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.’

11 ‘I, even I, am the LORD, and there is no savior besides Me.’

12 ‘It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I am God.’

13 ‘Even from eternity I am He, and there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?’”

As amazing as it is, there are those among us on this planet who apparently believe that they possess the authority and power of Almighty God! Yet, the LORD proclaims that He alone is God. “Before Me,” He says, “there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.”

Many years ago, I heard of a man in New York City who drove a white Cadillac with the inscription: “I am the LORD” boldly emblazoned in black on the side of his car. I never personally witnessed the event, but doubtlessly, there are many examples throughout the world of those who, in one way or another, lay claim to the same for themselves.

Moreover, many who lack the audacity to publicly affirm such a thing, nevertheless, believe that they actually have divine power equal to or surpassing that of the LORD Jesus Himself! Such a preposterous claim, whether concealed or not, is the height of blasphemy! Such people will one day be held to account; for the LORD said, “…you are My witnesses… I am God.”

We, who know Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior, ought to resemble Him in the total demeanor of our lives. He saved us for this very purpose. This gives credence to the validity of His Word and demonstrates what He can accomplish in transforming human life! He’s counting on us! Are you in?

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,

Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.”

Please re-read the above two verses once again. Read them slowly; let the message sink deeply into your mind and heart.

“Wisdom, might, and riches” are the uppermost thoughts in the life of man. I am the smartest; I am the most powerful; I am the richest. These are uppermost in the minds of many men. But, is it true?

The LORD disavows this untimely trilogy in mankind He has created. Let them not boast of such, He says. Rather let man boast that “he understands and knows Me.” Let him acknowledge that it is the LORD “who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth.”

How is man to come to such divine thought? He comes to it by immersing himself daily in the Word of God in Holy Scripture! For it is there that we learn both of Him and of ourselves. It is within the Scriptures that we gain knowledge of how different we are from God. Yet, it is in Scripture that we learn to love Him and embrace His teachings and become more and more in His image, day by day.

Read His Word daily. Let its truth be absorbed in your life. Life then comes alive!

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,

Philemon 1:1-7, “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,

2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;

6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.

7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”

Without question, this is one of the tenderest, most loving epistles the Apostle Paul ever penned. Although there are many facets to the purpose of this epistle, it sets the standard for everything anyone needs to know and employ when pleading for a serious cause.

Onesimus was a slave of Philemon. He had escaped and come into contact with the Apostle Paul. Although Paul denounced slavery in his day, he assessed the reinstatement and determined to return Onesimus to his owner.

Certainly, Paul had the overall spiritual aspect in mind. It’s a pattern we must all embrace. As someone once said, “It’s never right to do wrong to do right.”

There are some interesting things we’ll have to examine throughout eternity. For now, it’s sufficient to live by the teachings of the Scriptures. Oh, what a day that will be!!

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,
Colossians 3:1-7, “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.”

Previously, in this letter, Paul has clearly examined and advocated how the Colossian believers should conduct themselves. Now, he concludes that section by noting that they should affix their minds “on things above.” What an all-inclusive instruction for every believer in every generation, regardless of where he lives or in what particular situation he finds himself.

Paul clearly shifts his thought (and that of his recipients) to a “higher level” where they will soon be and live with Christ. This is precisely how we ought to think as well; for who knows when he will slip these surly bonds of earth and take residence in heaven?

At the same time, Paul takes nothing for granted with respect to what he means. He clearly cites those sins that have membership in our earthly bodies: immorality, impurity, passion, and all. Clearly, these things that plague humanity here have been thoroughly excluded from the heavenly home above. So, while their exclusion now will serve us well on earth, they will be something of a “head start” on the believers’ home in heaven.

Even now, our natural lives influence the lives of others. Who is to say that our new life in Christ will not be of influence on the lives of others here and now? Clearly, that was Paul’s intention. It’s a challenge! But it’s a challenge we cannot afford to miss! May God bless us to that very end!

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