The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

Joel 1:1-6, “The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel:

2 Hear this, O elders, And listen, all inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this happened in your days or in your fathers’ days?

3 Tell your sons about it, and let your sons tell their sons, and their sons the next generation.

4 What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; and what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; and what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten.

5 Awake, drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you wine drinkers, on account of the sweet wine that is cut off from your mouth.

6 For a nation has invaded my land, mighty and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a lioness.”

It was a dreadful time! Sin always precedes devastation! And the sins of the people had so expanded that the LORD’s prophet rose up to sound the alarm!

It may have been that the Judeans believed they could sin and escape the judgment of the LORD. Some people today believe they can do that. Or, it may be that their sin simply escalated to the point that they had forgotten God. Some people today believe they can employ that, too. But the massive locust invasion emerged unscathed.

Doubtlessly, disease is but one “willow-switch” with which the LORD disciplines people. Man simply cannot do wrong and get by! Throughout the Scriptures (particularly the Old Testament), the LORD utilized multiple animals and insects to discipline people. He still utilizes multiple things. Despite today’s turmoil surrounding various medications, the LORD can clearly utilize them to His advantage in urging people to recognize and renounce their sin! Man simply cannot sin and get by! Check your life! There just may be an invasion coming your way. It’s never worth the risk!

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,

Psalm 106:6-12, “Remember me, O LORD, in Your favor toward Your people; Visit me with Your salvation,

5 That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.

6 We have sinned like our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly.

7 Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

8 Nevertheless, He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power known.

9 Thus He rebuked the Red Sea and it dried up, And He led them through the deeps, as through the wilderness.

10 So He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

11 The waters covered their adversaries; Not one of them was left.

12 Then they believed His words; They sang His praise.”

Man, by nature, is both stubborn and forgetful. The Israelites reflected this in their attitude. The LORD provided them with everything they needed; yet, they continued to sin! “Nevertheless, He saved them for the sake of His name.”

We rubber-stamp Israel in accepting the LORD’s gift, yet we refuse to live by His standards. We often fail to openly recognize Him as the Giver of the gifts, choosing to allow others to believe that His blessings were actually the result of our gifted initiative.

We would do well to recall the fate of others who failed to openly recognize and praise the LORD for His faithfulness. By the way, are you giving Him credit for what He is doing in your life? He is the only true Giver of good gifts that are eternal in nature. Think of that!

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,

Psalm 62:5-11, “My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

9 Men of a low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; they are together lighter than breath.

10 Do not trust in oppression and do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

11 Once God has spoken; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God;

12 And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, for You recompense a man according to his work.”

Waiting is one of the most difficult aspects of life. Some days seem just to drag because of “waiting.” We wait at stop lights that seem never to change! We wait on others, whose lives seem oblivious to any sense of time. We wait in lines that seem to never move. We wait on cars to get out of our way, so as to enable us to get to our destination on time. Why is life such a hurry?

The psalmist begs us to “wait in silence for God only!” He is the only One for whom we are to be concerned, for our “hope is from Him.” The LORD is our stabilizer! He alone is our balance! Our trust is in Him alone! We are enabled to rest in the assurance that He alone provides! “…power belongs to God” – God alone!

In what or in whom have you placed your trust? There is no restful place but in God.

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,

Psalm 42:6-11, “O my God, my soul is in despair within me; Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.

8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my rock, ‘Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?’

10 As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me, while they say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’

11 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”

The Psalms are indeed a rich treasure! With long hours of tending sheep, shepherd David doubtlessly had enormous time to think and to pray. Not all of his days were tireless, however, for wild animals had to be discouraged from attacking the sheep he protected.

At times (probably more than we could imagine), David felt alone. And in these times, he turned to prayer and devotional thought regarding the LORD, whom he clearly adored. He would never have entertained the slightest thought that we would be reading his words over this distance of time.

David speaks of the LORD as his “rock,” a form of the Hebrew word meaning “divine origin.” What an encouragement! We would do well to think of that and how our words might affect others. Our words would undoubtedly do more for others were we more careful in their use. What might seem innocuous to us might actually be injurious to someone else. Without question, it is the LORD’s will that we speak to others in a kind, thoughtful, loving manner. Who knows who may one day read our words?

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