The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

3 John 1-4, “The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

3 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.

4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Attributed to Mark Twain is the time-worn saying, “Always tell the truth and you won’t have to remember anything.”

That may not be the best reason for always telling the truth, but it is undoubtedly sufficient.

Isn’t it joyful for us when we hear of someone’s honesty in telling the truth? John was telling the truth when he professed Christian love for the beloved Gaius. It was Apostle John’s reliance on the testimony of others that prompted his belief in Gaius.

Truth is always the superior route. Look at how it interlocks. The friends I hold dearest are those who are reliable in every respect. Why? Because what they share can always be received as truth.

“Truth divine, from Heaven’s throne, Holy Spirit, make us Thine own.

Pierce the veil of sin and night; Dawn within our souls with might.

Voice of God, so pure and true. Guide our steps, our hearts renew.

In Thy word forever bright, Lead us home to endless light.”

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,

2 Samuel 22:47-51, “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,

48 The God who executes vengeance for me, And brings down peoples under me,

49 Who also brings me out from my enemies; You even lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man.

50 “Therefore, I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the nations, And I will sing praises to Your name.

51 “He is a tower of deliverance to His king, And shows lovingkindness to His anointed, To David and his descendants forever.”

I didn’t finish reading it. It came in the mail and purported to be how the LORD had changed his life; yet, after having read but a few lines, I realized that it was not so much a testimony of what the LORD had done in the man’s life, as it was a “teaser” toward something I needed not to know. It was purely political in nature. What’s more, it “invited” me to contribute to his forthcoming campaign. (Who needs monetary support if he has the King of Kings on his side?)

No, “The LORD lives…” and that He lives within me is all I truly need. He is that Solid Rock that undergirds and supports my life. That’s all that I need. He delivers me from the heat of my enemies and rescues me from those who would do me harm. Who could ask for anything more? Thus, I am committed to Him, as He is committed to me!

May the blessed LORD be as merciful and bountiful to others as He has been toward me! That is my heartfelt prayer. And may we ever rejoice in His lovingkindness!

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,

Nahum 1:7-12, “The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble,

And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

8 But with an overflowing flood, He will make a complete end of its site.

And will pursue His enemies into darkness.

9 Whatever you devise against the LORD,

He will make a complete end of it. Distress will not rise up twice.

10 Like tangled thorns, and like those who are drunken with their drink,

they are consumed as stubble completely withered.

11 From you has gone forth one who plotted evil against the LORD, a wicked counselor.”

12 Thus says the LORD, “Though they are at full strength and likewise many,

Even so, they will be cut off and pass away.

Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.”

Readings from World War Two reveal that the British people quite often took refuge in underground shelters to protect themselves from Nazi bombing raids. When the sirens sounded, they sheltered themselves time and time again.

This short passage of Nahum declares the LORD as a “stronghold in the day of trouble.” We all face trouble from time to time – some more than others. Yet, there is no one so protective as the LORD! “Distress,” He says, “will not rise up twice.”

Sometimes it becomes necessary for the LORD to afflict His own people. You may already have experienced His discipline. Yet, while it is not His desire; it is undoubtedly necessary to bring us into line with His will.

Nahum assures us that those who have risen up against us will ultimately “be cut off and pass away.” Let me ask, “Is the LORD your stronghold?”

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,

Revelation 1:4-7, “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: ‘Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood–

6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father– to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

Don’t you just love letters that commence with congenial greetings? John is a loving disciple, and it is no mystery that he is personally, spiritually concerned for the churches in Asia. After all, they are operating in hostile territory.

Someone once said that “grace” is “God’s love at Christ’s expense.” That is not to say that either Christ or the Father viewed the other as apart from Himself. To the contrary, multiple times throughout the Scriptures, Jesus identifies Himself with His Father, and the Father, likewise, calls Jesus His Son.

Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross crushed the heart of the Father, as much or more than if it had been His own. In fact, for over one hundred times throughout the Bible, Jesus says “I and My Father,” linking them together in the redemption of the lost and in encouraging the saved. Knowing Him as our LORD and Savior, we accept the suffering that goes with the affiliation. It is triumphant suffering! He wins and we win with Him!

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,

Genesis 2:2-4, “By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made earth and heaven.”

There are 359 verses in the Bible that speak of “work,” and they range from Genesis to Revelation. The definition of “work” is “activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result, and/or a task or tasks to be undertaken; something a person or thing has to do.” Pastors “work” in the preparation of sermons. Musicians work to prepare music that will accompany the pastor’s message. Door-to-door believers work in preparation for presenting the Gospel to unsaved people throughout the city. Some men work in order to support those who carry the Gospel throughout the world.

It’s somewhat humorous, however, to discover that the initial citation of the word “work” throughout the whole of Scripture originates with Genesis 2:2, while the completion of the work “rests” in Revelation 22:12.

Needless to say, however, there are various kinds of work. There are old hymns that say,

“Work for the Night is Coming” (Annie Walker); “To the Work, To the Work”; and “Rescue the Perishing” (Fanny Crosby). In these, and many other old hymns of the faith, we are to understand the urgency of reaching the lost for Christ. Salvation is what it’s all about!

That’s why Jesus Christ came to earth, died on the cross, and arose from the dead. His work was then transferred to His people. Are we laboring as we ought? Time is running out. Our prayer is: “Lead me to some soul today; teach me, LORD, just what to say.”

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