The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 18:23-25, “And Abraham came near and said, ‘Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the Earth deal justly?’”

Today is the commencement of what may be one of the most momentous events in American history! For today the U. S. Senate weighs the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh for elevation to the U.S. Supreme Court. I have listened as carefully as a non-legal scholar can to some previous speeches Judge Kavanaugh has delivered over recent years. Unquestionably, he has a brilliant mind and undoubtedly, he grasps the minute neuances of the law.

Hearing him parse words like “maybe” brought to mind Abraham’s “confirmation” of the Supreme Justice, the LORD God Almighty. Sodom was a wicked-beyond-words city and the LORD had determined to destroy the city and all its citizens. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family lived there and Abraham wanted to save them. He reasoned that is was not just for the LORD to destroy the righteous with the wicked; and in his argument, he reasoned that there might be 50 righteous persons living in Sodom. The LORD agreed He would not destroy the city if there were 50 righteous persons could be found living there.

With the skill of a legal scholar, and the undeniable bravery of a seasoned warrior, Abraham said, “Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the whole city because of five?” It was a brilliant stroke of mental gymnastics. And the LORD agreed to spare the city if only 45 righteous persons could be found.

Abraham undoubtedly reasoned that if his plea worked once, it was worth trying again; therefore, he continued with the same procedure until he reached the level of 10. Yet,

when not 10 righteous persons could be found in Sodom, the LORD destroyed the city! Being a Just Judge, however, the LORD allowed Lot and his wife and two daughters to escape before His judgment fell on Sodom.

This “confirmation” of the Judge of all the Earth has never waivered. He is today what He was in Abraham’s day. He will free the righteous as quickly as He will condemn and erase the ungodly. Thus, it makes sense for us to live godly lives, saturating our minds with His Word, so as to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us in right paths –paths that honor and glorify Him! Determine now to allow Him to be your Justice in life.

Pray for our Senators today and for Judge Kavanaugh.

We are daily praying 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.”

Dear Grands,

John 1:29-37, “The next day (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

30 ‘This is He on behalf of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.”

31 ‘And I did not recognize Him, but in order that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.’

32 And John bore witness saying, ‘I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

33 ‘And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.”

34 ‘And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’

35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

36 and he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”

John the Baptist was a cousin to Jesus. He was six months older. The LORD had chosen John to introduce the Messiah to the world. He was baptizing the Jews as a sign of their spiritual cleansing, making ready for the coming Messiah. But how was John to know who the Messiah was? He was the One upon whom the Holy Spirit would descended. So when Jesus was baptized, John physically saw the Spirit come upon Him, and then he knew Jesus to be that promised Messiah. Now, he could introduce Jesus to the world as the Messiah who would take away their sin.

The very last verse in our Scripture above says, “And the two disciples (of John) heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” From that point on those who believed upon Jesus shared Him with their friends. Andrew found his brother Peter (vv. 40-42); Philip found Nathanel (vv. 45-46); and the word of the Messiah’s appearance began to spread.

It is always easier to speak first to family members and close friends. That’s okay. When they hear the Good News about Jesus and trust Him themselves, they will tell others. You don’t have to walk up to rank strangers and tell them about Jesus. But, of course, when you’re talking to anyone, you can steer the conversation in a spiritual direction and ultimately, toward Jesus.

With the internet available, we should all be sharing Jesus with everyone. I’ve used Twitter to share Christ with some people. Some who were following me, responded quite favorably. Others were critical. I expected that; however, the critics had to read what I had said before they could object to it. The LORD only knows how far the witness went and how many believers were themselves encouraged to witness for Him.

Just be loving and clear as you share Christ with others. Remember that He has placed in every human heart the awareness of Himself (Rom. 1:19-20). You are triggering that awareness. God bless you!

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

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.”

Dear Grands,

John 1:14-18, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’

16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

Several times in my life I have been in the same room with some famous and notable men. My thoughts were, “So, this is what he look like!” I can remember one man being much shorter than I had previously thought. It’s a strange feeling to be in the very presence of important men.

That must have been how those felt when they heard the announcement that “the Word –the LORD– (had become) flesh” in the person of Jesus Christ and was physically somewhere in their presence! Yet, for the moment, all eyes were upon John the Baptist, who was introducing the Messiah. Have you noticed that when someone of high standing is announced, it is someone also of high standing who introduces him? The President of the United States is never introduced by, say, the manager of Joe’s Chicken House.

The introduction of Jesus Christ to the Jews and to all mankind was a supremely notable event. The Jews looked with reverence upon Moses. He had given them the Law by which they were to live. But this announcement was of One greater than Moses. He has come straight from God, and through Him they were to be given grace and truth, both of which superseded the Law. It was indeed a momentous and unforgettable time!

Do you remember when you first met Jesus? I’m sure you do. An experience like that is not to be forgotten. You believed upon Him, and He forgave all your sins. Your life was clean; your heart felt full of His glory! Not only is that not to be forgotten, it’s something to be shared with others; it’s your time to introduce Him to your friends. That’s what the Jews did. It’s what He wants us to do, too.

We’re praying for you to be brave. Pray that we will be, too.

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.”

Dear Grands,

John 1:6-13, “There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.

9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Before the President of the United States sits down with any head of a foreign government, he first

sends an envoy –usually the Secretary of State—to determine that there is a true need for him to come.

John the Baptist (literally, “John, the baptizing one”) was Jesus’ witness, His forerunner or envoy. John

came to announce the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ and that they might trust Him when He came.

Jesus’ coming was “the true light” that gave every man the opportunity to believe upon Him and be saved.

Jesus’ coming “to His own” refers to the Jewish people. Abraham was a Chaldeen, when the LORD called him out to become the head of a different people, the Jews. They Jewish people were intended to carry the witness of the LORD Jesus throughout the world. But, as a nation, they refused. Still, some did

believe on Him as their Messiah, and to them the LORD Jesus gave the right to be called the “children of

God.” They were not physically God’s children, but they were called that by Him because they believed the witness that John the Baptist had given.

When you and I trusted Jesus as our Savior, He gave us the same title: “children of God.” And He gave us the same responsibility to witness of Him as the Creator and Savior of mankind. What we often forget is that when He came into the world, He “enlighten(ed) every man.” That means that every, single person on Earth in every generation has within himself an awareness of God. So, when we share the Gospel with them, it “rings a bell” in their innermost being – a bell that is calling them to believe on Jesus Christ.

We don’t actually “win” them; the LORD Himself does that. He encourages them to answer the bell, so to speak, encouraging them to believe. And when they do believe upon Jesus and trust Him, He gives them the Holy Spirit to live within them. Our witnessing is to awaken the awareness God has put in every man.

To return to my original analogy about the President, as witnesses, we act as his envoy, telling that he

is coming. When the people respond in belief, they get a ticket to attend the gathering. See, it’s not as hard to witness as you think. Of course, we must do so prayerfully and lovingly. It’s not something we’re to handle flipantly. Still, the pressure is off of us in that there is no failure on our part if we witness. So, let’s get started!!

We lovingly and sincerely pray for you 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.”

Dear Grands,

John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

How many times has someone said something to you and you replied, “What do you mean?”

That’s what I think when I come upon the word “word.” The Greeks had two word for “word.” At times, they are very close in meaning, but the context separates them. Rema is the word for the spoken word, as in Hebrews 1:3, where it says He “upholds all things by the word of His power.” It is that which is said,

a word, a saying, an expression.

Logos, on the other hand, is “God’s full self-revelation and proclamation through Jesus Christ; it is His “instruction, exhortation, the declaration” of His Truth in Christ. It is this word that John employs to introduce the Savior to all his readers. The LORD Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things. There is nothing that the Logos did not bring into being by the rema of His mouth. He who is Life brought the light of His Life into being. Remember that “the Earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep…” (Gen. 1:2). Then God said, “’Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen. 1:3).

You are permitted to say, “I don’t understand.” Perhaps none of us fully understands how the LORD brought all of this about, but He did! Even “the darkness –Satan and his angels—did not comprehend it.

The word comprehend is interesting because it means both “overcome” and “understand.” Walk into a totally dark room and you can rid the room of its darkness by shinning even a small light. But you cannot overcome a room full of light by bringing darkness into it. How would you do that anyway? That’s something we don’t understand.

All of this brings us around to faith and trust. We have to believe what the LORD has said in His Word. Science has no better explanation. What is called science today actually works from the standpoint of darkness. It neither understands nor overcomes what God has said in His Word. Where do you put your ultimate trust? We know where ours is.

Our love for you is wrapped up in our prayers,

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.”