The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 16:36-37, “And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, ‘The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Now therefore, come out and go in peace.’ 37 But Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.’”

Acts 23:2-3, “And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, ‘God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! And do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?’”

The late Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. once said, “It’s never right to do wrong to do right.” He may

well have learned from the Apostle Paul how to serve the LORD and the Law. Remember

the officials who had thrown Paul and Silas into jail after Paul delivered the demon-possessed

girl? When they learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, they ordered him to be quietly

released. Paul knew his rights and refused to “walk away into the sunset.” He demanded

that the officials themselves come and formally release him. They did just that.

Now, standing before the Jewish council, Ananias commanded an officer to strike Paul

on the mouth. Paul became livid and said, “God is going to strike you!” He further

called Ananias a “whitewashed wall” and challenged him for disobeying the very Law

by which he claimed to be judging Paul. In other words, It’s not right to do wrong,

while your claiming to do right. It’s the duty of every citizen to know the basic laws

of his own country. It’s the duty of every citizen to obey those laws. At the same time,

it’s the duty of every Christian citizen to obey the LORD and His Laws! Neither is mutually

exclusive. Does all of this seem a little tricky? Well, if we obey Him, He will guide us

without our having to disobey human law. Trust Him and obey. You will see.

Our prayers are lovingly offered for you every 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.”