The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 25:7-11, “After Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him which they could not prove,

8 while Paul said in his own defense, ‘I have committed no offense either against the Law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.’

9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me on these charges?’

10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you also very well know.

11 ‘If then, I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.’”

Paul was nearing the end of his personal ministry. He had many years prior trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The pronouncements of Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ carried no accusations from him against Rome’s political leadership; yet, Paul’s very mention of Jesus Christ had so aroused the Jews that they were determined to crush both his ministry and his life.

It seemed appropriate that the Jews’ accusation be brought before Porcius Festus, the Roman-appointed Governor of Judea. Festus heard Paul’s defense against the Jews’ charges but found them thoroughly insufficient. He determined, therefore, to release Paul. Yet, the Jewish outcry ultimately prompted Festus to change the venue to Jerusalem. Paul objected, saying he was then and there standing before Caesar’s tribunal; if Festus would not give him justice, he had no alternative except to appeal directly to Caesar, the Supreme Governor of Rome.

Historically, Christians have almost always been mistreated. Keeping clear, cool heads and demanding fair, legal hearings is always in the believer’s best interest. Yet, above all, one must retain and rely upon the spiritual counsel of the LORD Jesus Christ. He never fails!

Have you ever been summoned to court on charges you deemed thoroughly false? Did you seek counsel from an attorney you knew to be a strong and true believer? Did you pray for the LORD’s guidance throughout the entire process? Good! Then, “Trust in the LORD with all your might…”

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,

Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There’s some good theology in this passage, and it has to do with “attitude.” Would you be surprised to know that there are some fine, good, reliable men who failed to get that “superior job” because they lacked the right attitude? They knew they were not immediately equal to the boss but believed in their heart of hearts that they were on track to being equal, if not superior, to him!

The problem was that thought was not concealable! It showed through in the lining.

Jesus “…did not regard His equality with God” as something to be tightly grasped, as with retention! Rather, He viewed Himself as a mere “bond-servant,” whose appearance and humanity, despite His eternal affiliation with Almighty God, was precisely like those He came to rescue! We must never forget that ourselves! We are, by faith, affiliated as sons of the Living God. We are not our own. We are but laborers in the vineyard of humanity, seeking to initiate others into that eternal relationship of which only Christ Himself is Lord!

Thus, when anyone would occasion to say that they are seeking to be like us, they should be rebuked and realigned with the truth: Jesus alone is LORD and Savior! All glory and praise must always be directed toward Him. Do you know Him? Do others know that you know Him? That is His (and our) eternal desire!

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,

Mark 13:3-13, “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.

10 “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

11 “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

13 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

In one sense, times haven’t changed that much. The disciples in Jesus’ day were concerned about world events and proceeded to inquire of Him what would ultimately take place. If our newscasts are any indication, we’re just as concerned as Jesus’ followers were in their day.

The key for us is the same as it was for them: “…be on your guard…” Times are going to get tougher than they are now. Count on it! But what can we do? Christ addresses this in the verses above: “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” That is our responsibility now! Not only are missionaries to carry the Gospel in a person-to-person fashion, but radio, television, and the Internet are instruments for sharing Jesus Christ – and often in the language of those we wish to reach.

“But I don’t know their language!” you say. Now, we have AI (Artificial Intelligence) to translate what we want to share in the language of those with whom we want to share it. We need to be careful, however, and clear in sharing. Our language must be precise and devoid of hackneyed phrases and clichés. In many instances, we have access to the Scriptures in the very languages of those we’re seeking to reach. The Internet provides us with numerous tools we’ve never previously possessed. We have every tool we need for sharing the Good News of the LORD Jesus Christ with those of other languages. We are clearly without excuse! 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,

Luke 12:39-44, “…be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

40 “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?

43 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

44 “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

“I’m going to lunch now. Watch over things here in the store until I return. I’ll not be long.”

What was your first thought when someone suddenly made you responsible for something of considerable value? Depending on your age at the time, it just might have given you considerable fright. None of this probably ever entered the boss’s mind when he hired you as a salesman in the store. You’ll just have to be calm and trust that nothing beyond your ability to handle will be required until he returns.

Peter must have felt something like that when Jesus said, “…be ready; for the Son of Man is coming (and) at an hour that you do not expect.” Peter’s reply demonstrates his surprise: “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone…?” Poor Peter. He was too used to fishing, and fish never startled him like this.

Does Jesus’ statement startle you? It does if you’re not an alert “faithful and sensible steward.” There is no calculable time given to us whereby we can know when the LORD is returning. Of course, things are getting worse day by day; still, how bad are times to get before He comes? The best we can say is “just be ready!” Live carefully, faithfully, lovingly! Every day brings us one day closer. Then one day He will come! We sure want to be ready! And we want our loved ones to be ready, too. We had better help them to prepare. Keep looking UP! He could come today!!!

“Blessed is that slave whom his Master finds so doing when He comes.”

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,

John 8:31-36, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ 33 They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, “You will become free?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 “So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

“Freedom” is a strange and, in many ways, an incalculable word. It certainly does not mean that any and everyone is “totally and thoroughly free” to be and do anything and everything that comes to mind! Where this is practiced, chaos inevitably reigns! Thus, when Jesus said, “…the truth will make you free,” the implication that Abraham’s descendants were not free did not sit well with His audience.

You may recall my mention in a previous Grands Letter that, as a very young student, I was once under the tutelage of a nice lady who said to our class, “Today we’re going to do just as we please—so long as we please to do what is right.” That is very close to what Jesus said to the Jews who had heard Him say, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.”

We might say that “freedom” comes caged at various levels. The owner of a business is totally free to roam about as he pleases, saying and doing whatever he wants. His manager, however, is free only within certain limits related to his instructions from the owner. Laborers, who fall under the jurisdiction of the manager, have even less freedom, yet they are part of the overall company.

Freedom in Jesus’ view is that those who are committed to Him are the only ones who are truly free from sin’s ultimate enslavement. Think of this as a small boy who is permitted to play in his own backyard but forbidden to play in the yard of a neighbor. His freedom is limited. So is ours!

Freedom is granted only to born-again believers, and then, only as the Lord Jesus allows.

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