The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 16:9, “…a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Open doors are always opportunities for exploration. One of the things we boys used to like to do was visit

old abandoned houses. More often than not someone had been there before us and left the doors open for

us to enter. It was an adventure to see where people had once lived and the things they had left behind.

When Paul said that a “wide door” was open to him, he indicated the opportunity for sharing the gospel.

Have you ever noticed how many “open doors” you have for sharing your faith? Recently, a girl said to

me, “My sister is getting married –my younger sister.” It was an opening for me to say, “Well, you’ll have

to pray about that.” Prayer is always a spiritual undertaking, and how she responded to the thought of

prayer indicated whether she was thinking spiritually or just physically.

I’ve always been interested to note that Paul did not say, “…but there are many adversaries.” That would

have indicated a hesitancy. No, he said “…and there are many adversaries.” When a really good sports

team takes the field against an equally tough team, they are challenged positively to do their best. If a

good college team were to play against a second-rate high school team, there would be no serious challenge.

Paul’s knowledge of “many adversaries” demonstrated to him that Satan’s team was there. It was an opportunity

for the LORD to exercise His strength through Paul in witnessing and winning the lost to faith in Christ Jesus.

Think about the opportunities you have to turn conversations into spiritual conversations. Think about how

exciting it is to witness the LORD’s power do His work in the lives of unsaved people. Not everyone to whom

you witness will immediately come to faith in Jesus. But, the mere mention of spiritual things will make them

think spiritually. The Holy Spirit will commence His work in their minds and hearts, and while you may never

see them again, some other witness will take the baton and continue the race. Pray for that open door!

God bless you!

We hold you in our prayers every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”