The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 4:25-32, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.

28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

One oif the problems I face in writing these letters is how much to include. This is a rather long passage,

but it is packed with so muc instruction that I hesitate to omit any of it. Paul is saying that there are some

things that a true Christian should never do. At the same time, there are things that every true Christian should do. When we think or do wrong or evil things, we are opening the door of our lives to Satan.

Some time ago, Nana and I installed an alarm system in our house. If someone forces a door or window to gain entrance, the alarm sounds and alerts the police. We can monitor who comes and goes through our cell phones, Paul says in this passage that we are to monitor our own lives, so that only things from the LORD should be allowed entry in us,

When we were saved, the Holy Spirit took up residency within us. He now monitors our lives and sounds

an alarm when we are tempted to say or do things that dishonor the LORD. The same Spirit signals an

“okay” when we follow His leadership. His purpose is to remake our lives that we might be like Christ. He

wants those we encounter in life to see that we are “different.” We are not harsh or rebellious. We are

pleasant and loving. Yes, we can be angry; but when we are, it ought to be against ourselves for giving in

to the devil instead of following the Holy Spirit.

Go back and read again the verses above. Read them s-l-o-w-l-y and thoughtfully. Examine your heart and life. Then, confess your wrongs to the LORD and ask His strength to help you to forsake wrong and do right. He will forgive you and bless you and fill your life with joy!

Pray for us, as we pray for you,

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.”