The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 10:13-14, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man;

and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but

with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Did you ever wonder why there is so much evil mentioned in Scripture?

Paul tells us in verses 6 and 11 of this passage that they were given as

“examples for us.” No, they are not there to teach us how to engage in

evil. You know better than that. They are there to teach us that 1) every

person encounters an appealing way to explore evil. In that, none of us

is alone. But, why does the LORD even allow us to be tempted? When

we are tempted and we resist the temptation, we are strengthened to

resist it when it comes again. But, you don’t know how hard it is, you say.

Oh, yes, I do! And sometimes I have sinned because I did not resist. You

are not alone. Were you ever physically weak because you needed food?

What did you do? You ate some food and were strengthened. It’s much

the same way with temptation. When we’re weak spiritually, we need

to reach for the Word –the Bible! As we read it, we are feeding our

spiritual lives and strengthening our resistance. No temptation is stronger

than your ability to resist. God has made it so. Our part is to get up and

get away from temptation as quickly as possible. Turn your mind away

from evil and toward God’s Holy Word. That’s His prescription. Use it!

Pray for us today, as we’re at First Baptist, Southwest City, Missouri.

We love you desperately,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1Cor. 8:4-6, “Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols,

we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there

is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in Heaven

or on Earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, 6 yet for us there

is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him;

and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

The idols that “existed” in Paul’s day were quite different from those that

exist in our world today. Yet, there is a close parallel in the principle he

sites. Psalm 115:6 and 135:17 emphasize the dead, physical presence of

dumb idols. Such idols exist, but they are mere lifeless substitutes for the

one, true God. The warning against false idols is that “Those who make them

will become like them” (Psa. 115:8). That’s what happens to those of the

world. For us, however, “there is but one God…” From Him come “all

things,” and “we exist for Him.” We do not belong to ourselves, to do

what we want or like. We have been granted life that we may do His will.

Additionally, it is through and by the grace of Christ that we even exist.

Each one of us is a temple in which the Holy Spirit lives. Any substitute

(idol) for Him is diametrically opposed to the will of the Father and His

Son. Are you serving an idol? Is anything in your life a substitute for Him?

Temptations abound! The LORD is our guard and deliverer.

Love and Prayers always,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 2:9, “But as it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath

prepared for them that love him.’”

You have no idea! For that matter, neither do I. Just as neither of us

knows what is going to take place today or tomorrow, neither do we

have an inkling of what God has prepared for us. It’s a surprise! All

we can know with certainty is that it is good –very good! It’s beyond

the best we could ever even imagine. Yet, we can miss being blessed

because we’re not loving Him. Remember when Jesus had that

breakfast chat with Peter? He said, “Do you love me?” Remember

that the word Jesus used was agape. Peter’s word was philos. Yes,

we all love (?????) the LORD, but He wants us to ???????? Him. It’s

a matter of total commitment! “But, I love the LORD,” you say. That’s

what Peter said. Yet, there’s a deeper, more consistent love that

abandons self in favor of Him. What waits for us here and now is

wonderful beyond anything we can imagine! Believe me, what He

has in Mind is more than worth what we surrender to obtain it.

We love and pray for you every single day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 3:16-19, “’Do you not know that you are a temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple

of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what

you are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that

he is wise in this age, let him become foolish that he may become wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written,

“’”He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness.’””

The allure of this world is exceedingly powerful. There are so many “things”

that dangle before us. Wouldn’t it be good to have one of those? a child

thinks. But after a few days, he grows tired of it and moves on to something

even more desirable. Is the child deceiving himself? Yes, he is. What is

startling is the fact that what we have is already more than what the world

could ever provide. Think about it: you are the “temple of God!” When you

trusted Jesus as your Savior, the Holy Spirit came into your life forever! He

lives within you to protect you from unwise and evil choices; He guides you

into paths that are pleasing to God and profitable to you, as well. He teaches

you the things of the LORD, so that you might become holy, just like a temple

ought to be. Oh, the things of the world are alluring; but they don’t last and

they are never satisfying. I once asked a financial “watchdog” how much is

enough? He replied, “There’s never enough.” So, we deceive ourselves,

and end up being caught our own craftiness. And all the while, time goes by.

Don’t waste your time and your life with stupid things! What’s more, don’t

allow the things of the world to hold you captive. The Spirit cries “NO!” and

we must obey Him. Tragedy alone lurks around the corner.

May our love and prayers captivate you for Jesus,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

John 21:19b-21, “And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’

20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them;

the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper, and said, ‘Lord,

who is the one who betrays You?’ 21 Peter therefore seeing him said to Jesus,

‘Lord, and what about this man?’ 22 Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain

until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!’”

The one major lesson every soldier must learn is to obey orders. When an

order is given, it must be obeyed without hesitation and without the thought

of “Wouldn’t it be better to _____?” Peter had just been given a three-part

lesson that said, “Feed My sheep, Tend my lambs.” Now, without explanation,

Jesus said, “Follow Me.” That should have been enough. It would have been

for John; but not for bold, impetuous Peter. He wanted to know what Jesus

wanted John to do. In a polite, yet firm reply, Jesus said, “That’s none of

your business, Peter; you follow Me.”

Remember how your parents used to say, “You (meaning you alone)

clean up the kitchen” or “I want you to move that out of the front yard”? And

you replied, “But, what about my sister?” “What about my brother?” No

parent is ever under obligation to tell a child why. The answer is usually,

“Because I said so!” It’s even more authoritative when the directive comes

from Christ. I remember a church member whose zeal for the LORD was

so great that I asked him, “Are you sure the LORD hasn’t called you to

preach?” He looked at me so serenely and said, “Pastor, I’ve always wished

He would call me to preach the Gospel, but His call just isn’t there.” What

we ultimately do is not so important as just following Him. He will always

lead us where He wants us to go; and your life will be blessed only as you

follow Him.

We pray for Christ’s will for your life,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”