The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 2:1-2, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned…”

Men are not holy because they are preachers. In fact, there are preachers

who are false in their lives and in their teachings. They want to justify their

unholy ways by introducing destructive opinions into the messages they preach.

Some will even go so far as to deny the deity of Jesus Christ!

This is precisely why we need to listen carefully to a pastor’s messages. Certainly,

some sincere and loving pastors have wrong ideas about what the Bible teaches.

But there are others who live contrary to Scripture and believe that they are

justified in doing so when others agree with them and live like they do. Weaker

believers then follow them and the Truth of the LORD is scrambled and dishonored.

Listen carefully to what your pastor says. If you have questions, a godly pastor will

entertain your questions honestly. If his attitude is that you just need to follow

what he says without question, ask your questions of someone who will honor

them and reply biblically and lovingly. Yes, pastors are to be responsible to be

honest and truthful with Scripture, but you are also responsible to “guard what has

been entrusted to you” by the LORD Jesus Christ (1Tim. 6:20).

May Love and Prayers & Careful Listening be yours,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

James 1:19-20, “This you know, my beloved brethren.

But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

One of the major aspects of the course I’m now teaching is “listening.”

If we are going to understand what a person intends when he speaks,

we must listen, and listen carefully. A mountain of problems develop

when we misunderstand what was said; and that misunderstanding

most often comes because we do not listen. When we then speak,

we speak about what we thought was meant. Then, the original

speaker insists he did not mean what we thought, and we feel obliged

to defend what we said about what we thought he meant. That leads

to anger. How is the righteousness of God obtained through anger?

Simply stated, it is not. Such things as this occur in the home, in

the church, in the public arena, in the Congress, in the courts –and

on and on and on. It might be good to ask the speaker to clarify his

original comments, so we might know clearly what he meant. That’s

another aspect of “hearing.” It saves time and a lot of grief.

Did you read carefully what I wrote? Do you have a question about

what James intends or why he wrote it? No? Good. There will be

no argument then, and the righteousness of the LORD will be obtained.

Love and prayers,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:7, “Remember those who led you,

who spoke the word of God to you; and considering

the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”

Probably the last thing you hear from your parents

when they are leaving you behind is: “Now, don’t

forget to attend to those duties I’ve laid out for you.”

The Apostle Paul is concluding his letter to the
Hebrew (Jewish) people, when he says precisely

the same thing: “Remember those who led you…”

Most immediately, you will remember your parents.

They have known you more completely than anyone.

But you have a heritage that reaches back beyond

them. You have grandparents and great-grandparents,

and great-great-grandparents. What they all were

has had a bearing on who you are and what you believe

today. They all bear a heavy responsibility concerning

your spiritual life. And you have two parents. I hate

to think what my influence would have been on my

three children had it not been for the influence of

their mother. Her wisdom and attention to details of

our family’s life contributed immeasurably to the

welfare of your parents. Mothers contribute so much!

When the time comes for you to marry, be certain

that you follow the LORD’s will, because your union

will carry a heavy responsibility toward your children

and those who follow them.

We love you with His undying Love,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

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Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such

things there is no law.”

We all know that fruit (apples, grapefruit, pears, and the like) are good

for us physically. Paul introduces “the fruit of the Spirit,” which is better

for us than any physical fruit could be. He lists nine separate things,

which he identifies as the “fruit of the Spirit.” And these nine things are

the attributes of our LORD Jesus Christ. I don’t need to identify these

further, because they are understandable on their face. Nor are they

separable. They always go together. Perhaps the strangest thing is

that there is no law against any of them. Did you ever hear of a law

against love (agape), or against joy or peace or patience? If we allow

the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and our deeds, we need never

fear arrest for disobedience. But there is need to fear arrest for the

things mentioned in verses 19-21. What a contrast! Stay clean and

let the Holy Spirit always be your guide. That’s how we demonstrate

the LORD through our lives.

We love and pray earnestly for each of you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

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Dear Grands,

John 8:31-32, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him,

‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

I spoke to the CAP cadets last night on “Truth.” Their attention was

excellent, and I was amazed that they were so “up” on current events.

Verse 32 above was one of the verses I emphasized. But verse 32

must really link with verse 31, because you cannot know “the truth”

unless you are “in (His) Word.” The Word of God reveals His truth;

and when we understand His truth, we are made “free.” The word

“free” means to be exempt from liability. We are sinners and responsible

for our sin, until we know Christ. His death and resurrection frees us

from the liability of our sin. But there’s more. Sin is burdensome.

Criminals who have long run from the law are often relieved when

they are caught. Sin is burdensome even when it’s not illegal. We

know what we do and think that are sinful. We feel guilty. Jesus

frees us from that guilt when we confess it with the determination

not to again engage in thoughts and deeds which dishonor Him.

Yes, His Truth really sets us free!

We love you tremendously and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

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