The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 2:1-5, “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

2 like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

???????????? (pres./pas/ind): being made, built up,

The cry of the Apostle is for Holy Living. Such, however, can only come from those who know Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior. In order for holiness to show through our lives, there are some things that need to be removed and discarted. And there are things that need to be received and displayed.

Peter comes right to the point: “put aside all evil, wickedness, deceit, envy and slander.” These negative, spiritual things cloud others from the view of Christ, Whose Holy Spirit lives within us! Sadly, churches have members who live holy lives at church, but live quite unholy lives at work or when around their neighbors their neighbors. Wicked activities, sorry to say, often come from workers within the church, bringing to mind Chaucer’s saying, “If gold rust, what will iron do?”

Foremost among the characteristics that are to be received and displayed is the “longing for the pure milk of the Word.” We do not know if Peter had children. We only know that he had a wife. Regardless, he knew the eager activity of a newborn child as it longed urgently for its mother’s milk. Newborn Christians should have that longing for the Word of God. Newborn children eat to grow. So do newborn believers in Christ. The Scriptures are that pure milk for which newborn believers long and by which they grow in grace.

Peter then changes his metaphor from a newborn child to “living stones.” Buildings are made of stone. And spiritual houses (homes, churches, friendships) are comprised of “living stones,” born-again individuals who join with others to magnify and glorify the Risen Christ. This is what God desires. Now, the question turns on us: are we divested of evil and all that God despises? Are we longing for the truths that come from God’s Word? Working to share this Letter with you daily has kept me in the Word and brought me closer to Christ, our LORD. It’s no mystery. Just rid yourself of all known evil, and receive what the LORD waits to give you from His Word. You’ll be amazed at what He can do for your life!

Praying for you as we write,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie will receive another blood transfusion tomorrow. We are so grateful for those who have worked

to make this possible yet again. We will both appreciate your prayers.

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.”