The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Habakkuk 1:10, “They make fun of kings, and dignitaries are an object of laughter to them. They laugh at every fortress, then heap up dirt and capture it.”

I cited the prophet Habakkuk because he is one of only five writers of Scripture who mentions the word or an occasion of “humor.”

I thank the LORD that I was born with a sense of humor. Rarely does a day go by that something humorous reaches into my life. I truly love and appreciate good, clean, productive humor. Candidly, I would not know what to do without it.

Sometimes, I have an occasion to inquire about something by telephone. When I have learned what I needed, I then speak more personally and ask if there is a supervisor nearby. This occasions a sense of hesitation; but then, she haltingly says yes and summons her supervisor to the phone. It is then that I offer exuberant praise for the excellent work and conversation I have had with my initial informant. You can sense the relief in both parties when there is nothing negative to convey.

I then suggest that the initial person’s salary be doubled and she be given a two-week, all-expense-paid vacation in Maui! You would not believe their laughter! What a tonic for two people who undoubtedly often receive ugly and degrading responses from callers. They will not forget!

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a lady who inadvertently mentioned her sick son. I asked if she were a Christian and told her I would be praying for her son. She was most appreciative. So many people are out there in the working world, worrying about those they’ve left behind. A bit of humor or personal concern makes their day. It makes mine, too! Go spread some humor with someone! God bless you!

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,

Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil,

19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.”

By definition, wisdom is “the quality or state of being wise; the knowledge of what is true or right, coupled with just judgment as to action, discernment or insight.”

Solomon was indeed a wise man in most of his ways. Like a lot of us, he faltered when it was to his selfish advantage, yet he maintained stability at other times. When two women (both prostitutes) came before him, each claiming a dead child to be hers, Solomon took a sword and offered to sever the dead child in two parts, giving half to each of the women. One woman said, “Cut the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” But the other woman cried out saying, “Give her the living child, and by no means kill him!” And it was then and there that the true mother was revealed.

Wisdom is not a natural characteristic. It is an acquired benefit. Often taught by wise parents, it is then passed on to their children. Hopefully, their progeny will then successfully carry the process into all subsequent generations.

The seven characteristics noted in the Scripture above — the eyes, tongue, hands, heart, feet, and mouths—are the carriers of abomination that the LORD hates! So,

“Be careful little eyes what you see;

For the Father up above

Is looking down in love;

So, be careful little eyes what you see.”

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 Timothy 3:2-7, “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Timothy was a young Christian lad when Paul wrote this letter. Timothy’s mother was Jewish, and his father was Greek. This was the first of two letters that Paul, now in his seventies, wrote to young Timothy. Paul himself was writing from Lystra, but he always maintained encouraging communication with Timothy. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:12). Those five Christian virtues cover the conduct of all believers in Christ. We should all examine ourselves regularly in the light of this verse.

Paul emphasizes doctrines that should be cherished and demonstrated within every believer’s life: sound doctrine, prayerfulness, spiritual oversight, particularly of those younger in the faith, and the careful exercise of one’s own spiritual responsibilities.

Although set forth in Scripture many years ago, these principles of the Christian faith ought ever and always to be observable in a true believer’s life. We need to remember each other in our prayers.

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,

Proverbs 6:16-23, “There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil,

19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.

20 My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life…”

What a transformation our world would encounter, were we only to accept the challenge of these eight verses! Just imagine! The identification of all that is wrong is but the initial step to a wonderful, marvelous way of life! Yet, it all begins with the recognition that what affects us is precisely what God hates!

Note, too, that it is not the responsibility of the LORD to initiate alterations in our lives. He leaves that to us. If you want a better life, eliminate those situations that are hindering it. First, alter your eyes! Raising one’s eyebrows, so as to squint, expresses a supercilious, “better than thou” attitude toward others. Second, quit lying to others, especially as it leads to murder.

Stop thinking and planning wicked things that negatively affect other people. Don’t lie and cause people to think bad things about others. Such things magnify and proliferate wrong attitudes. And above all, remember and express only those good things that you were taught by your parents. Keep them foremost in your memory. These are the things that will guide and uplift your life.

Beyond that, by the utilization of these good things, the LORD Himself is pleased and glorified!

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,

Proverbs 6:16-19, “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.”

I once asked a fellow preacher I knew what he did for pleasure. His answer surprised me. He forthrightly said, “Some people engage in sports, some in pleasures of various kinds. I make money.”

It was a terse reply—one that frankly intrigued me. He was a nice, warm, personable fellow. I never knew or heard of any scandal attached to him or his ministry. His vocabulary, so far as I knew, contained no profanity or off-color humor of any kind. His ministry, however, was always somehow attached to his pleasurable desire to make money. He pastored churches, was true to the Scriptures, evangelized the lost, and engaged in the normal activities of ministry; yet, somehow he was always engaged in some enterprise that produced money.

He had apparently forgotten the Word that says, “…For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”

That preacher is gone now; and I have no thought that he ever lacked the knowledge of the grace of almighty God, or that his ministry in the Word was somehow meshed with his extracurricular activity. It simply underscored my thought that the Word of God in Scripture is to be the exclusive pursuit of those who are called to deliver it to a lost and dying world. May the LORD keep us ever faithful to His calling.

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