The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 1:1-4, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life–

2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us–

3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”

Some days ago, I received an email purporting to portray a prominent figure quite negatively. To my surprise, I recalled knowing someone who was actually there when the event occurred. Which position would you imagine I took? I took the position of believing someone I knew who was there and witnessed the event –an event that the writer of the negative position never personally witnessed.

The Apostle John assures all his readers over these now 21 centuries that what he is going to say he personally witnessed. He was there! He knew the Person of Jesus Christ! He heard Christ speak! He witnessed the demeanor of Christ day-after-day and in every possible human circumstance. John is a prime witness: he was there!

Along with John’s emphasis on life is his emphasis on eternal life. John knew, walked and talked with Jesus. And Jesus spoke openly and freely about His own eternal life with His Heavenly Father. And what John heard and experienced, he wrote in a letter that has spanned the centuries –a letter inspired by the Holy Spirit, who lived within John and moved him to tell all he knew about eternal life.

His purpose in writing was not to boast of himself, but to encourage the fellowship of other believers –you and me!—fellowship that we have available with the Father and His Son, Jesus, the Messiah. Surely, his writing brings us joy! At the same time, it brings John joy to share it. Isn’t it the same with us? We can read the Word and pray and witness the LORD’s working in our midst and rejoice in all that is occurring. But, it makes our joy even more complete when we share it with others and witness the joy it brings to them!

Share Jesus today! There are multiple ways of sharing. Only today, someone said something that prompted a Scripture verse. I quoted the Scripture aloud and mentioned that it came from the Bible. The response told me that either the respondent knew the LORD or he had come from a family that knew the Bible. No, it was not a get-down-on-your-knees-and-pray-with-me moment, but it was a start. All of us can do that. Then when there is a positive response, there is an opening for a more complete witness of Christ and His love for all mankind.

Perhaps I will soon have the opportunity to share some of our recent witnessing experiences. People “warm” to you when you show love and concern for them. Then, they come to learn that what you’re sharing is of benefit to them.

We love you and pray that you will know the joy of sharing,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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.”