The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 7:19-23, “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice

the very evil that I do not wish. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do

not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes

to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,

23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war

against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin

which is in my members.”

After Israel was delivered from Egypt, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments,

as recorded in Exodus 20. These Commandments were never intended to

produce life in mankind; rather, they were given as warnings to enable mankind

to know when they were sinning against God. The first four of the Ten Commandments

have to do with mankind’s relationship with God; the second six have to do with

mankind’s relation to mankind.

Romans seven has always been a difficult chapter. Paul says he knows in his

mind what is right, but he seems always to be persuaded to do wrong. Haven’t

we all had that experience? Take pizza. We’ve eaten until we were filled. We know

we’ve had enough, but it tastes so good that our body just wants more. I found just

such a food in India. I ate so much that I got sick. But, it was SO GOOD that I ordered

it again the next day! How stupid! But I just couldn’t seem to resist it!

Paul had the same experience, but not with food. The Law said “DON’T!” But his

body, his emotions, cried “DO IT!” The conflict was there; and if he obeyed the

“DO IT,” he discovered he was a prisoner of sin. If he resisted the “DO IT,” he was

captive to the way of Christ. It works the same with us. We are captives, either

way. But one “prison” keeps us from Christ; the other keeps us from sin. Whose

captive do you want to be?

We pray you will always be a willing “captive” of Jesus Christ,

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.”