The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 4:25-28, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth,

each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.

28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing

with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something

to share with him who has need.”

Ephesians is LOADED with gems of truth! That makes it hard to select

certain verses for explanation and edification. The Apostle Paul was in

prison when he wrote Ephesians. Reading through the entire book, it

is clear that he emphasizes Christ’s love and desire for His Church, and

the behavior He wants for individual Christians.

Stop lying and start telling the truth. Lying is simply a mechanism for

concealing something. We are called to reveal the truth, not to conceal it.

Be angry, but don’t sin. Anger is an emotion –often an explosive emotion—

that is natural. Yet, it’s a slippery slope into sin. But be careful that your

anger does not open the door to the devil. He squeezes through the smallest

crack in our lives and uses our emotions against us. Quit stealing! Theft is

taking and possessing something that is not our own. It could something

tangible; it could be an idea. Some people live totally off of other people’s

work, and it’s wrong! Beyond the obvious wrong, it’s wrong because it

stifles the potential the LORD has given the thief to produce with his own

hands. Those who steal keep everything to themselves. Those who

produce have something to share with others.

Let us challenge you to share some of what you have with those who are

in need. Be prayerful about it. Be wise in sharing, so as not to stifle their

own productivity. Encourage them to be productive. And always be truthful.

You don’t have to tell anyone all that you know about anything; but always

be honest with everyone in whatever you say.

We love you and pray for your spiritual growth in the LORD,

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.”