The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 1:8-9, “But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.”

“Don’t be so dogmatic!” Have you ever heard someone say that? Of course, you have. “Ease up. You don’t

know everything. How can you be so sure you’re right?” Paul emphasized his teaching in verse eight by repeating it in verse nine. He had no tolerance for anything that did not equate with the true Gospel. He further emphasized his meaning with the word “accursed.” It is the Greek word ??????? (anathema), which means “set aside for divine destruction.” Paul was not speaking rashly. He meant every word of what he had initially said. So, he said it again that we might know that he had not misspoken.

All that being true, I want you to notice the words before and again. “As we have said before, so I say again now…” Good Friday is fast approaching; and the Sunday after is Resurrection Sunday. (I don’t like the word

Easter because it’s origin is from pagan worship.) True, Christian pastors everywhere will be emphasizing the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They said it all last year at that time. Why do they need to say it again? It’s because 1) some have never heard it, and 2) we all need to hear it again and again.

Some years ago, I conducted some meetings in a church in Memphis, Tennessee. While I was there, my host pastor took me to Mid-America Seminary and introduced me to professor-friend of his –a man who knew more than 30 languages! How on Earth could anyone keep up with that many languages? He reviewed several of them every year. Once he had truly learned them (before), it was easier to review them (again). Never take for granted that you will remember something, unless you review it over and over again. Okay, so you’ve read that book of the Bible before; now, read it again! Memorize, review, and share its truth with someone else. Someone once said, “We never have anything so much as that which we give away.”

We hold you lovingly before the LORD in our daily prayers,

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.”