The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 5:15-24, “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.

16 Rejoice always;

17 pray without ceasing;

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit;

20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;

22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

The theme of First Thessalonians is “The LORD is Coming for His People.” And as a parent clothes and instructs a child for good behavior at the coming of an important guest, so the apostle instructs us all with

respect to the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. Notice that he commences in something of a summary

when he says, “seek after that which is good…for all men.” Seeking the good for others includes seeking

what is best for us, as well. Rejoice, pray and give thanks. And additionally, be careful not to put down or ignore what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do. Pay attention to the Scriptures! The things said in ancient

times were said for your instruction.

Examine everything carefully by putting it to test. Discern good from evil and keep in mind what is good.

Interestingly, the word for evil (poneros) in v. 22 differs from the words for evil (kakos) in v. 15. Kasos

means “moral conduct, attitudes, and the plans of godless people.” Poneros speaks of that which itself produces evil. It’s the evil that we do that, in turn, causes others to do evil as well. Paul, like that doting

parent wants us to be ready for the LORD’s Return. He wants us to be holy and blameless, so that we

will not be spiritually embarrassed when He Comes. How can all of this take place? The LORD Himself

is faithful and He will see that we are ready. Yet we must be cooperative in the things of which Paul has

spoken. How ready are you? Examine yourself carefully and be truthful.

We love you immensely and continue to pray for you,

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.”