The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 13:5, 8-14, “Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and people like the sand which is on the seashore in abundance; and they came up and camped in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

8 Now (Saul) waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.

9 So Saul said, “Bring to me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.

10 As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.

11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash,

12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So, I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.”

13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

14 “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Have you ever outsmarted yourself? Ever jumped in on something you thought you could handle, only to find that you couldn’t? Well, that’s exactly what Saul did! “But Samuel was late,” you say. Yes, Samuel was late; however, time was not the issue – obedience was!

I’ve often been tempted to engage in things for reasons I could not justify. In those instances, I’ve learned that it’s better to leave such things alone! Keep close and prayerful contact with the LORD. He is always your Supreme Leader!

The ultimate penalty Saul paid for his disobedience greatly outweighed what he envisioned as success. What we view as “things we can handle” often ends up in the same devastation.

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, “As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately,

4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?”

5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

6 “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many.

7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.

8 “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.”

There was a joyful little song we kids used to sing: “Be careful little ears what you hear; for the Father up above is coming down in love; be careful little ears what you hear.” Similar lines also applied to the eyes and the lips, as well as the other parts of the human body. Jesus warned of such things when He answered the query of His disciples. Thoughtful, studious preachers today echo similar warnings.

In London, there is an open-air pulpit where citizens can freely express secular and/or doctrinal beliefs without fear of legal reprisals from authorities. It’s what we call “freedom.” Not everything espoused there is true or even believable. Therefore, audiences are forewarned. Jesus forewarns us, just as He forewarned the disciples in His day. “Be on your guard,” not only with what you say, but with what you believe. You can trust the Bible! Saturate yourself with His Truth!

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 9:1-7, “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

2 ‘The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given.

3 ‘Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.

4 ‘Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

5 ‘Surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man’s brother I will require the life of man.

6 Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.

7 ‘As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it.’”

Have you ever been afraid? Can you genuinely recall a time when you were truly captivated by fear? I suppose that has happened to everyone at some time in life. I can recall my mother saying, “Don’t be afraid. You can do it. Just trust the LORD. He will help you.”

The LORD had just “blessed Noah” and his family, saying “Be fruitful and multiply…” Then, abruptly He added, “The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth…” Yes, fear would indeed exist, but it would be that “every beast…bird…everything of the earth” would experience fear, except for man.

Yet, today, the source of fear appears to have originated within man, for he clearly avoids contact with multiple creatures of the earth, whether the danger is real or merely imagined. Regardless, it is man who is protected by Almighty God. Although couched in political rhetoric, President Franklin D. Roosevelt echoed Scripture when he said, “The only thing man has to fear is fear itself.” Whatever seeks to trouble you is erasable through prayer. Be fruitful, not fearful. The LORD is your strength and stay.

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 6:3-10, “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,

4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arises envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 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.”

False doctrine, personal conceit, disagreement, morbid interests, engagement in controversial questions – each and all of which lead downward on a path to spiritual and often physical destruction.

Who could listen to and view the news today and compose a “straight face,” while denying that such abominable situations exist in our nation and world today? Children never want things so much as they do when they’re denied them. It would seem that adults are infected with the same noxious disease! Television rages with “you just have to have this” advertisements; and the race is on!

The news is replete with stories of high-ranking government officials who have fallen prey to such infectious diseases. Lying, engaging in moral indiscretions, misappropriations of illegally acquired funds—and the list goes on. The more one has, the more eager the desire! The love of money is the root of all evil; and we can’t even take that with us!

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,

Amos 1:1-4, “The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

2 He said, “The LORD roars from Zion and from Jerusalem He utters His voice; And the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn, And the summit of Carmel dries up.”

3 Thus says the LORD, “For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.

4 “So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael and it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.”

In a brief paper entitled “Amos: God Doesn’t Play Favorites,” Ray C. Stedman writes: “The message of this book is basically to declare the impartiality of God. God plays no favorites. He makes no allowances for one person that He will not make for others as well. There is no such thing as being God’s fair-haired boy. He does not give any more to one than He does to another, in accordance with the promises that He makes. Any who are willing to fulfill the conditions of the promises will find His blessing poured out upon them, regardless of who they are; and any who presume upon these conditions will find Him sitting in judgment upon them and His Word, condemning them no matter who they are. This is the message of Amos.”

This is a solemn warning to all of us as Christians today! Although the message is couched in the nomenclature of Old Testament times, it is as relevant to us as it was to those in the day of the prophet Amos. We, who are Christians, are born again by the loving grace of our LORD, Jesus Christ. Our calling was not merely that we might someday enter Heaven; rather, it was that we might exhibit something of the likeness of Christ here on earth. His Word gives us His Message to all mankind; therefore, we are responsible for sharing Him with those whom we encounter along life’s journey. Let’s not earn for ourselves the Lord’s message to Amos! Let’s learn to share with others what Amos should have learned and shared.

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