The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 2:10-13, “You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;

11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,

12 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

13 And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”

False prophets were everywhere in Paul’s day. Moreover, wherever they discovered someone proclaiming

Jesus as the Christ of God, they went into attack mode. Paul clearly differentiates himself from the false

prophets by citing his pattern toward them. The believers in Thessalonica had witnessed Paul’s conduct and his message. He was thereby cleared of any charges that he behaved or proclaimed what the false prophets did. Not only did the Thessalonian believers know it, God Himself was witness to Paul’s upright conduct and message. His message was one of a loving appeal, encouragement and solicitation to join him in the work.

His purpose with them was that they might walk worthy of God who reached out to them in salvation. At the same time, Paul engaged in prayerfulness for these believers. He constantly exercised prayerfulness for them, and for their acceptance of the Word as being from the LORD and for performing His work in them.

Isn’t this what we want for those to whom we witness? Don’t we want them to accept our words of witness as

being from the LORD Himself and not just from us? Don’t we truly in our hearts want to walk acceptably before the LORD? Don’t we want Him to be glorified by our conduct? This is what all true believers want!

So, let’s get started. Dig into the Word of God! Believe what is said in His Book, the Bible! Pattern yourself

according to Christ Jesus’ life. That is the “covering witness” to the truth that we share. Mankind is lost! Mankind is looking for hope and a way out of his darkness. We have the Light! How shameful that we do not share it!

Earnestly seeking to lay a pattern for you,

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.”