The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 34:18a, “Seek from the book of the LORD, and read…”

I awoke this morning with these words heavily etched in my mind.

“Seek” (darash) means to consult, to inquire, to investigate. Too

often today we take for granted whatever someone says to be the

truth. Sometimes is is not the truth; sometimes it is not the full

truth. How do we determine what is the truth? Investigate “the

book of the LORD.” ~ Too often we entrap ourselves, we fail to

know the truth about a lot of things because we do not READ!

I love technology; but it should never replace reading! Yes, there

are books available for reading online. But online reading is too

often distracted by other online ventures. Another thing: keep a

dictionary at hand. I still use one at my age. The nuances (look

that one up!) of words are very important. ~Here’s something you

didn’t expect (nor did I): the word translated “read” in the verse

above, doesn’t only mean read like we would think. It is the Hebrew

word qara, and it means “to call, proclaim, scream, summon,” and

a variety of things. How would I know if I didn’t “investigate?” How

do you know what I’m saying is true, if you don’t investigate? As

the LORD is the Supreme Authority in all things, so His Word is

accurate and authoritative. How do we know? “Seek from the

Book of the LORD, and read.” You’ll find out for yourselves. I did.

Love you all unmeasurably (Latin, m?t?r?),

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

John 7:16-17, “So Jesus answered them and said, ‘My teaching is not Mine,

but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching,

whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.’”

Jesus was always under a challenge from the Pharisees. He had gone into

the Temple and was teaching. The Pharisees argued that He had no right

because He had no “degree” from their institution. Then He said what is

written in the verses above. ~ I remember addressing a university crowd in

Australia, arguing that the Scriptures were our sole authority. After I concluded

(which was about 45 minutes) one student on the very back row asked how he

could be sure that what I had said was true. To this day, I cannot honestly

recall having ever memorized the verses above, but I quoted them from memory

in response to his question. Then I added that if he were honestly willing to commit

himself to the LORD Jesus Christ right then and there, if the LORD did not save

him, I would quit preaching forever. It was a bold move, but I knew the Scriptures

were correct, so I threw out the challenge. He never moved from the back row.

The absolute proof of one’s intention is to do what the Scriptures say, allowing

The LORD Himself to prove His Truth. What has anyone to lose by trying?

Nana & I will be in Southwest City on Sunday morning where I will be preaching

for Dr. Grimm. Please remember us in your prayers.

Love always in our Blessed LORD,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

John 4:46-53, Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.

48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”

49 The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.

51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.

52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”

53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.

This is a longer passage than we usually consider, but we need in all in order

to grasp the full meaning. It is possible that the “royal official” had been at Cana

when Jesus turned the water into wine. That would account for his belief that if

Jesus could turn water to wine, he could heal his sick son. The son was 16 miles

away in Capernaum, and he was dying. Jesus seems to have ignored the plea of

the official, possibly because they were irritated that the official would interrupt

what Jesus was saying. In any event, they were expressing doubt, prompting

Jesus’ words, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not

believe.” But the official was eager and in a hurry because his son was dying.

Jesus simply said, “Go! Your son is living.” The official believed Jesus’ word, and

it was later determined that at the very time Jesus spoke those words, the fever

departed from the young boy. ~ Why do we often doubt God’s words? Our

education has focused more heavily on science than upon God. Yet, how were

we saved? By believing science or by believing God? Read Proverbs 3:5-6 again.

We love you and trust the LORD’s leading of your lives,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

John 4:3-6a, “He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.

4 And He had to pass through Samaria.

5 So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel

of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;

6 and Jacob’s well was there.”

We take so much for granted. Only missionaries from our own

country truly understand the need for pure and plentiful water.

Multiple nations today have little water that is fit to drink. It was

the same in ancient times. I shall never forget the day my family

and I stood at Jacob’s well. My emotions ran wild! This was the

very place where Jesus stood as he spoke to the Samaritan

woman. I dropped a small pebble into the well and it seemed

like minutes before I heard it hit the water below. It was indeed

deep. ~ Customs in that day were quite different, too. Jews did

not speak to Samaritans (why is a story in itself); men did not

speak to women in public –even to their wives. Yet, Jesus used

the water for which the woman had come, to start a conversation

with her. We need very little with which to engage people in

conversation. Water is so basic, but it can be a conduit to lead

someone to Eternal Life.

You are the joy of our life,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

John 3:14-15, “’As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;

so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.’”

Remember that I previously said, “The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed”?

Well, Nicodemus missed it. So, Jesus revealed an Old Testament truth to him from Numbers 21:6-9.

Snakes had invaded the Israelites and many died from snakebites. They pled with Moses, who turned

to the LORD for guidance. The LORD told Moses to make a “fiery serpent” of brass and lift it up before the

people. Everyone who has been bitten and looks at the serpent Moses made, will live. The Israelites

had no knowledge of what all of that meant, beyond their own healing. The Serpent speaks of evil from the time of Adam and Eve. Brass in Scripture is an emblem of judgment. Jesus now tells Nicodemus that Moses’ serpent of brass was a sign of the Messiah, who would one day come and take upon Himself all of the sin of all mankind. And those who look upon Him (Jesus) would be forgiven and receive everlasting life. Now, you know a bit more about what happened to you when you trusted Jesus as your LORD and Savior. It was foretold in the Old Testament and revealed to you in the New. How wonderful the LORD and His Word is!

Love and prayers always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas