The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 12:1-3, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

Okay, now I’ve got the job; what do I do? Did you ever long for a job and then wonder how to do it when once

you were hired? Christians are often like that. We turn willfully away from former things and give our hearts and

lives to Jesus. What then? How do we behave as believers? What do we do in this new life?

Paul wants us to notice first that we have been saved by the mercy of God, not by anything that we did. Our

conduct: speech, dress, mannerisms –all are to be changed. We are to live acceptably to Him. Worship is no

longer a mysterious ritual (if it ever was); it is now a daily manner of living that pleases and honors the LORD.

But, how is this possible? We’ve lived for ourselves and copied the bad manners of the world until they are

virtually automatic to us. We change by “renewing our minds.” Instead of just going with the flow and doing

what everyone else does, we THINK about what God wants from us and do that! So what, if others think we

are “strange”? We may even “feel” strange, like trying to walk in shoes that are too tight for our feet. Things

will work out in time, just like the shoes. Don’t quit trying to live the New Life! Don’t worry about those “friends”

who think you’re weird. And above all, don’t get puffed up with pride. Remember that this New Life has been

given to you; it’s not a life you created for yourself. At the same time, believe that the LORD is doing a new

work in you (remember the shoes!). Anything new takes time for adjustment. “God has allotted to (you) just

enough faith (belief, trust) for each day of your New Life. You are going to make it because He is within you

guiding and empowering you step-by-step. Never, Never give up!!

Remembering you 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.”