The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 127:1-5, “Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.

5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

Solomon’s wisdom is nowhere more accurate or practical than here. Labor is always futile unless the LORD is involved. He not only oversees the building, He protects it once it is completed.

The vanities of man are equally well cited. I had once mentioned that I rise early every morning. A friend responded that he never arose early because everyone he knew who did bragged about it! Ouch! Nevertheless, the LORD Himself is the Guardian over all who sleep, making it unnecessary for the watchman. At the same time, earnest and grateful parents keep careful watch over their children in addition to their trust in the LORD’s watchfulness.

Hard labor demands sufficient food, and the LORD provides for all of His own. For even in sleep, the proper digestion of food is under His watch care, extending especially to children, for children are “the fruit of the womb,” an extremely precious reward. Children are as beneficial to a man as a man’s arrows are to his bow; and he is considered blessed to have them. Oh, that all men might envision their children (and grandchildren!) as vitally, pricelessly precious!

Our children walk in our footsteps. They are guided as well as their guides provide them. And the LORD holds us accountable for the values (or lack thereof) that we implant within them. May we be ever so diligent in rearing them in the ways or our blessed LORD, Jesus Christ!

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 Corinthians 3:1-9, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.

2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,

3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

4 For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men?

5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

Do you have a favorite preacher? So do I; and so do a lot of Christian people. I suppose there’s nothing wrong with having a favorite, but we must be careful not to allow jealousy and strife over pulpit personalities to come between us, lest we be labeled as “spoiled, spiritual babies.”

In the multiple secular fields, it’s not uncommon to find two carpenters or two electricians who differ in the application of their particular skills. What is most desired is the ultimate competency of their labors. We all vary in multiple styles of hair, clothing, and even subjects of casual discussion. Why should we be dogmatic about almost anything except things of a spiritual nature?

Preachers quite naturally differ in personality and styles of delivery. It’s doubtful if even identical twins would be lock-step in their thinking and delivery. or a specific preaching style. This is the problem that our text brings to light. Just think how it would be if every pastor or evangelist preached in the very same way, even using the same type of illustration. What is vital is the exultation of the LORD Jesus Christ! “We’re God’s fellow workers, His field, His building!”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 3:3-11, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

4 and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’

5 “For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…”

We’ve all met them. Deep down in their hearts, I believe they know better; still, they persist in denying that Jesus is Coming Again! Were I one of their group, I, too, would find comfort in denying the reality of something I seriously dreaded! Yet, someone said, “Denial itself is a form of affirmation.” If something doesn’t exist, what’s the point of denying it? I’ll tell you what the point is: it’s fear that it does exist!

Well, the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ does exist! And the only escape from this sin-drenched world is through Him! Preachers who love and embrace the Scriptures, actively share Jesus with their congregations! He is our only hope—and that of our family and friends.

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,

Acts 1:6-11, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’

7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.

11 They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’”

One of the most remarkable experiences the disciples ever had was this! They questioned Jesus regarding the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, but He responded by citing the authority of His Father, and shifted the responsibility of witnessing back onto them! To my knowledge, that obligation has never been rescinded. We are saved to serve! Yes, He privileges us with the power of the Holy Spirit; yet, it is with the purpose that those who do not know Him might come to know Him through our witness.

There is no greater calling than the calling to share Jesus with others! I always enjoyed preaching; yet the underlying thrill came from those who came to know Christ through the preaching! Have I shared with you the man who kept saying “I’m a very bad man”? I asked him if he had ever gutted a rabbit. He had. I then said, “Jesus is going to reach down inside you and tear out all of your sinfulness, pour in His blood, and make you a new and pure creature for His glory! His response was, “Oh, I’m so glad, because I’ve been such a very bad man.” What a joy that was –and is!

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 9:1-6, “And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.

2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

3 And He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.

4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.

5 And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’

6 Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”

It’s a peculiar reminiscence, but I recall a time when I was in evangelistic work that I was informed that I was to stay in a certain house for a night or two and move to another for another specified time. I smiled and repeated verse four above; and thus, spent the entire time I was in that vicinity at the same house.

I have to admit that I had no idea what verse five meant with respect to shaking “the dust off” of one’s feet. Subsequent to that time, I have learned there is more than one meaning to be derived from that verse. Shaking the dust off of one’s feet was a symbolic act, a testimony against those who rejected the Gospel. It also signified the devastation of separation and final judgment –not something anyone should ever want!

I’m sure we often wonder whether those who refuse the Gospel we offer, ever come to the faith in Jesus Christ. We should continue to pray for them and trust that they will receive Him as their LORD and Savior. We are not and cannot be held to account for what they do; but we must continue to pray for their salvation. You may ultimately have to “shake the dust off of your feet,” in their regard; but we should pray until the burden is lifted. The LORD will see to 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