The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 5:22a, ??????????????? ???????? ?????????????????

Does that look strange to you? Reading from right to left, it says,

“And walked Enoch with Elohim,” or “Enoch walked with God…”

Walking with God is not like a stroll around a lake. It’s a continuous

and progressive action of life. When we follow the LORD daily, He

blesses us, and in turn, affects the culture of our time in a positive way.

I can remember when Sunday was a day when all businesses closed

in honor of the LORD. Only those businesses that were vital to life

(hospitals, police, fire departments) were operating. Yet, slowly

businesses began to open until virtually every money-making operation

has invaded the sanctity of the LORD’s Day. Our culture has changed.

In 1967, Truett Cathey opened Chic-fil-a in the State of Georgia. The

restaurant has never opened for business on Sunday. Yet, today Chic-fil-a

is the number one fast-food restaurant in America. God honors those

who honor Him.

Some years ago, a St. Louis pastor preached a message that challenged

a businessman who operated his business on Sundays. St. Charles Rock

Road was a main artery from north county to the city downtown. Traffic

was heavy every day. This man’s business was a filling station on that

heavily-travelled road; and they pumped a lot of gasoline every day and did

a good business. But the man was troubled about being open on Sundays.

So, he said to his crew, “Next Sunday we’re going to close; and we’ll be

closed on Sundays from now on.” His partner objected, saying that he, too,

was invested in the business and believed the business should remain

open. “But, I’m the senior partner,” the other man said, “and we’re closing

on Sundays!”

His testimony was that on the Friday and Saturday before the Sunday on

which they were to close, they pumped more gasoline on those two days

than they had ever pumped on Friday, Saturday and Sunday combined in

the history of the station!

All of that is to say that the LORD is faithful to us when we determine to

walk daily with Him. He honors and blesses those who honor and glorify

Him! What about your “walk”? Is it a walk with God? Give Him a chance

with your life. You’ll be amazed at the blessings His love will pour down

on you!

Love and prayers, ever and 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,

Matthew 4:8-11, “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'” 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.”

Did you notice? Did you see what just happened? Jesus had just said (v. 7),

“You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.” That is, we are not to ask Him to do things that would show off His power. Humm… thought Satan. Why not?

So, once again, Satan appeals to human pride. Luke’s gospel says that Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world “in a moment of time” (Lk. 4:5). All of

this is spiritual in nature, leaving me to believe that the “very high mountain”

was a view through time and space. Look at these kingdoms, Satan said. They can all be Yours. Right now, they’re mine; but I can and will give them to You. You don’t have to suffer the anguish of the Cross; You only have to humble Yourself and worship me.

Barnes writes, Satan “commences, therefore, artfully and plausibly, and the real purpose does not appear until he has prepared the mind for it. This is the way with all temptation. No wicked person would at once tempt another to be profane, to be drunk, to be an infidel, or to commit adultery. The principles are first corrupted. The confidence is secured. The affections are won. And then the allurement is little-by-little presented, until the victim falls. How everyone should be on his guard at the very first appearance of evil, at the first suggestion that may possibly lead to sin!”

Once again, our LORD Jesus used Scripture to refute Satan’s temptation; and he went away. We can defeat Satan, but not without the LORD’s help. We just

MUST stay in the Word every day! Make it a habit to read the Bible daily. Read

it carefully and consistently. It’s the one thing Satan cannot stand. And it is a force the LORD has given us by which we can become spiritually strong and

victorious!

You are daily in our prayers, always in our love,

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.”