The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:1-3, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you…”

How often have you heard someone refer to another person as a “saint?” More often than not, when the word is used in this regard, it is intended to convey a person’s excellent, spiritual attitude. In the Bible, however, –particularly in the New Testament– “saint” refers to a spiritual position, not a spiritual attitude. Of course, those who are in the right spiritual position will possess a spiritual attitude as well.

The word “faithful,” also in verse two, refers to spiritual responsibility. Paul doesn’t waste words. “To the

saints and faithful brethren…” –those who have the good spiritual position because they have trusted in Jesus Christ and those who are living up to their spiritual responsibilities. The word “brethren” in this verse refers to others who are “in Christ.” Those “in Christ” are the Church, the Christian community, in every successive generation. It has no bearing upon any religious denomination, except that those embracing a Christian denomination, hopefully, are themselves embraced by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The statement “Grace to you and peace from God our Father” (v 2b) opens Paul’s acknowledgment of blessing from the LORD. As always, “Grace and peace” are his subjects of focus. Grace is the activity of God’s love. Nowhere in history is this more visible than in A.D. 33 on a hill just outside the walls of Jerusalem. For there on Calvary Jesus Christ was crucified, giving Himself to His Heavenly Father as payment for our sins. “Clean out the old leaven,” Paul said in First Corinthians 5, “that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (I Cor 5:7). Paul admonishes the

Corinthian believers to live consistently clean lives, inasmuch as Christ has paid the supreme sacrifice for them.

“Peace,” by definition, is the confidence of God’s Love. If Grace, as the activity of God’s Love, is associated with the Cross of Christ, then Peace, as the confidence of that Love, is associated with the Resurrection of Christ. For it is through His Resurrection, His people know peace.

The Father and the Son are jointly the source of favor and blessing bestowed upon sinful, but repentant, man. When Paul says “Grace to you” and “peace from God,” he says more than our English translation allows. “To you” means “advantage.” ‘Grace is to your advantage,’ Paul is saying. And ‘peace comes from the ultimate source: God.’

The big question is: Are you a saint? That means, Have you willfully turned away from your sin and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If you have not, you ought to immediately! “Now is the accepted time. Today is the day of salvation!” (II Cor 6:2).

If you have been saved, the big question to you is: Are you faithful to the Lord? Faithful in reading His Word

daily? Faithful in praying–not just when you’re in trouble, but to tell Him you love Him, just to praise His Name! Are you faithful in worship? Do you worship regularly in a Bible-believing, Christ-exalting church? Do you contribute your spiritual gifts to the upbuilding of the Body of Christ, His Church? Are you faithful in witnessing to others about Jesus’ saving grace? How long has it been since you spoke personally to someone in the effort to see them receive Christ? There really is a lot to being a Christian!

Pray for us as we pray 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.”

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 6:13-16, “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

14 that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 which He will bring about at the proper time– He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords;

16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

Have you noticed that Paul, John, James, Peter –all prominent ministers of the Gospel—always direct us in how we are to behave? They rarely make suggestions; most of the time they command us to behave righteously! Here Paul commands Timothy and us in the very presence of Almighty God.

God “gives life to all things.” Recently, where I live there has been an abundance of rain. As difficult as it is to live life in a downpour, were it not for the rain, growth of grass and plants and trees would be stunted. Rain is only a portion of the life the LORD gives to things we need for food and clothing.

The LORD Jesus bore witness of the truth about Himself and His Father when He stood before Pontius Pilate.

Therefore, Paul is directing us to follow Christ’s example by scrupulously keeping His commandments, so that no one can successfully challenge us of being hypocritical. Christ Jesus is coming again; and as Sovereign, He will corroborate our witness at that time! Christ alone possesses immortality. Moreover, He dwells in Light so brilliant that it cannot be approached. Thus, no man has ever seen Him! He alone is worthy of supreme honor!

Honor the LORD this week! Read from His Word every day! Keep your mind and heart pure before Him. Praise Him for His supplies that keep you alive and healthy. Guard your eyes from seeing evil. Guard your feet from straying from His pathway. Guard your thoughts, keeping them loving toward all people. He honors those who honor Him. Be one of “those” this week!

We love you and praise the LORD for His using of 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.”

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 6:7-11, “For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

11 But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

How much did you bring into this world? You probably came into the world kicking and screaming and hungry! And we’ll all leave this world with nothing material in our hands. Paul says we should be satisfied if we have food and covering for our bodies.

But some are like the young entrepreneur, whom I asked, “How much is enough?” said to me, “There’s never enough.” He ultimately “fell prey” to the love of money and drifted away from the LORD he once perported to love and serve. Money itself is not evil; but the love of money is. It leads those who are captivated by what it can buy into “many foolish and harmful desires” that “plunge men into ruin and destruction.” The worst of those “harmful desires” is “wandering away from the faith.”

When I was young and still in high school, I worked part time for a local funeral home. A woman we buried wore diamond rings worth thousands of dollars, as she lay in her casket. Undoubtedly, she adored their beauty while she lived, but they were of no value to her when she died. You’ve heard the old saying, “There’s no U-Haul behind the hearse.”

Paul says we should “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” Why these? Because they have a lasting value that reaches beyond the grave. What we are spiritually while we live, not only leaves its residue when we’re gone, it commends us to the LORD throughout Eternity. Give your life and interest to the things of the LORD. Pray for those you know are sinful and lost. Witness to them, that they might come to know Jesus. God will provide for your current needs, just as He provides for your life hereafter! Nothing else is worth possessing.

Praying for you and for those for whom you pray,

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.”

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 13:3, 5-6, “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. 5 A righteous man hates falsehood, But a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully. 6 Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless, But wickedness subverts the sinner.”

Sometimes the best defense is no defense. When someone is brought to trial charged with a crime, he has the opportunity to personally witness in his own defense. Yet often, for various reasons, the accused does not speak in his own defense. Solomon may have been the originator of that procedure when he said that “the one who guards his mouth preserves his life.” No one ever has to explain what he hasn’t said.

Christians should lead in always telling the truth. If we are righteous, we have nothing to fear. Christi is our Authority and our Advocate. “Righteousness guards the one whose way is blameless…” Further, we should always despise ways that are false. The unbelievers –those who are not committed to Christ— often behave wrongfully and without any shame whatever! Unbelievers do not recognized Christ as their authority; they view themselves as their own authority and say whatever they believe will exonerate them from the wrong they have done.

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) once said: “Always tell the truth and you won’t have to remember anything.”

He was not a Christian, but he had doubtlessly learned the value of truth as he lived his life. Wickedness

Truth is to be remembered; it is also to be shared. Do you know the Truth? –God’s Truth? It’s written in His Book, the Holy Bible. If you know and have embraced God’s Truth, especially that concerning Jesus Christ, you should now share it with someone who has not embraced it. Wickedness will ultimately turn itself against the sinner. His only hope lies in Jesus Christ.

We pray for you earnestly and sincerely,

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.”

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3a, “For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly.”

About 20 or more years ago, a relatively unknown graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary wrote a book entitled, The Late Great Planet Earth. The author was Hal Lindsey. Today you can hear and see Hal Lindsey regularly on television TBN at 8:00 P.M. In my estimation, he is “spot on” with respect to biblical prophecy. I

cannot too urgently encourage you to listen to his program. He does not set a date for the LORD’s Return, but he understands how critical our time is here on the Earth.

The Apostle Paul’s view of Christ’s Return had no specific timetable, either; however, he emphasized again and again in his letters that Christ Jesus would return and that we had better be ready. The world is oblivious to the teachings of Scripture. Every election cycle in countries of the free world has advocates who cry, “Peace and Safety.” They assure us that their governance will be better than that of the previous occupant of national leadership.

We must, however, never take our eyes off of sound, Scriptural teaching. Thieves come when we least expect them. Even natural destruction occurs when we least expect it. And the Word of the LORD enjoins us to keep alert and focused on things around us. We should go to bed every night and awaken every morning with the thought: This could be the Day the LORD Jesus Christ will return!

But, there’s more. If we live daily with the thought that He might return that day, we will be more acutely aware of how we live, what we think, how we speak, and what we say. Think about it. Your life will be better, and so will those around you. God bless you! Keep looking UP!

We love and pray for your daily,

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.”