The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Numbers 32:20-23, “So Moses said to them, ‘If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.

23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.’”

Years ago, there was a radio show entitled “Truth or Consequences.” The host would interview a contestant and then ask him a question. If he answered it correctly (which contestants rarely did), he got a prize. But if he answered it incorrectly, there was a consequence –and the consequences were hilariously funny. The show ran for years, and was the first radio quiz program that made it to television.

The real truth is that there are consequences to what we do. The verses above need little explanation. Moses had led Israel’s army to the Jordan river. There were occupants across the river. But the LORD had given the land to the Israelites, and it was time for them to cross the Jordan and drive out the unlawful occupants.

The Israelites were instructed as to what they were to do. Being obedient to the LORD’s command would mean victory and possession of the land. Failure to obey the LORD’s directive would mean sin “against the LORD.” What’s more, Moses said, “…be sure your sin will find you out.” That’s another way of saying, If you fail to obey, there will be consequences to pay.

That forewarning is still operative today. Parents fail to train their children in the LORD, and we encounter their ultimate rage in human society. Children fail to obey their parents, and they suffer for disobedience. Men and women take vows of marriage and then disobey them. The results (make that consequences!) are visible in their lives and work against the

welfare of their children. On and on it goes. You can’t do wrong and get by! Why? Because the sins one commits affect all who are connected with him. Even the family name can become smirched, so that the innocent are viewed as guilty in the eyes of the whole community.

Watch what you do! Be careful what you think about! Weigh the consequences of all acts. If you do, you’ll be surprised how few of them you will indulge in. Tell the Truth! Live the Truth! Share the Truth! It’s the Truth that will set you free! (Jn 8:32).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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,

1 Timothy 5:22, “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus

share responsibility for the sins of others, keep yourself free from sin.”

As a college teacher, I often had students ask for a recommendation for

a specific job or for a school, where they intended to continue their education.

I always relished these opportunities, especially when the student was

outstanding academically.

But, there’s a “flip side” to such recommendations. If the student had

displayed a negative attitude, despite being intellectually qualified, I would

be giving my stamp of approval –a stamp that could negatively label me.

Paul has just instructed young Timothy with some “dos and don’ts.” One

of Paul’s don’ts had to do with asigning responsibility for service to someone

who was not prepared intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually to undertake it.

To do so would be tantamount to assuming personal responsibility for what

another person does.

Each of us is responsible to repent of our sins and believe upon the LORD

Jesus for forgiveness and for salvation. Then, we are responsible to share

the Good News of Christ Jesus with others. We are to be conscientious and

loving in our witnessing. But we are not responsible for their acceptance or

rejection of the LORD Jesus Christ.

It hurts to see people you love say no Jesus. We must not give up on them,

but the decision is totally theirs! We are responsible to pray for them and to

present the Gospel. Since the responsibility of salvation is the LORD’s, we

are not held to account for whether they accept. Be loving, be clear, be prayerful,

but trust the LORD to work in their hearts.

Praying heartily for you,

(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,

Ephesians 3:13-19, “Therefore, I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

14 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father,

15 from whom every family in Heaven and on Earth derives its name,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man;

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.”

In one way or another, tribulation strikes every family on the Earth. With some, it is disease; with some, it is turmoil within the members; with others, it is the scarcity of daily provisions. Yet, whatever characterizes your tribulation, it can turn out to your benefit. I don’t even understand how and will not pretend that I do. But the Word above says, “they are your glory.”

Without clear understanding himself, the Apostle Paul turned to PRAYER. What he did understand was that every family in Heaven and on Earth were given its name from the Father. His prayer that the LORD would grand each family, and each member of it, the PROVISION of strength and power through the Holy Spirit, Who indwells the faithful hearts, with the PURPOSE that those hearts may be “rooted and grounded in love.”

Here’s something additional that’s very important: Love is the key to everything. Why did God create the heavens and the Earth? He did it out of Love. Why did God provide a way of forgiveness and salvation for men when they sinned brazenly in the sight of God? It was out of Love that He did it. What was Christ Jesus’ answer when one asked Him which was the greatest commandment. Remember? He said, “You shall love the LORD thy God…and your neighbor as youself.”

Love surpasses knowledge! Ministers and theologians may possess and proclaim God’s Truth, but it’s ineffective without love. Is Truth what you hear from ministers cradled in Christ’s love? If it is, you can be certain of its accuracy. If it is not, you had best seek another avenue for His Truth.

Be in church on Sunday! Sing and worship the LORD! Listen and learn of His Truth. Just be certain that it is wrapped in the Love that sent Christ Jesus to the Cross.

I am praying for you! God bless you and you grow in Him and in Love.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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,

Lamentations 3:22-24, “The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.

24 ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in Him.’”

There’s an old spiritual that says,

Sometimes I’m up; sometimes I’m down;

Oh, yes, Lord.

Sometimes I’m almost to the ground;

Oh, yes, Lord.

Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen;

Nobody knows but Jesus.

Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen;

Glory, Hallelujah!

The author of our Lamentation verses had alread reached the “Glory, Hallelujah”

portion of that song. To be sure, he had experienced the “ups and downs” of life;

but he didn’t stop there. He knew the compassions of the LORD never failed. He

knew the LORD’s mercies were new every morning, and he cried, “Great is Thy

faithfulness.”

“The LORD is my portion,” the author says within his soul. “Therefore, I have hope

In Him.” Is your hope in the LORD? Some men trust in themselves, but the Bible

enjoins us to trust in Him! We are not God! We are but His creation. We are a

fallen creation, and without true help. If we were able to deliver ourselves from the

world’s troubles, why were we not able to have avoided trouble altogether?

Don’t be fooled! Say and believe with the Scriptural writer: “I have hope in Him.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. I am so very greatful for the multiple sympathy cards, emails, and phone calls from

you who knew and loved my sweet Rose Marie. I trust that you will understand that

I am swamped with responsibilities that keep me from responding to you. I assure

you, however, that I read and cherish every, single one. God bless you for your

love and encouragement!

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,

2 Chronicles 21:20, “He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.”

Sadness is an attitude brought on by negative mental preoccupation. If we dwell too long on troublesome things, we become sad. Accidents that occasion physical difficulties are occasions for sadness. Deaths, too, produce sadness in the lives of loved ones, sometimes even if the knowledge of the decedent is that he or she is in Heaven with her LORD Jesus Christ. Maybe that’s why the LORD wants us to focus on Him!

Consider Jehoahaz: He became king at age 32 and reigned only eight years. At age 40, he died. What is worse is that he died “with no one’s regret.” Solomon bemoans the fact that someone could die and “not even have a proper burial” (Eccl. 6:3). For whatever reason, Jehoahaz was not buried in the tombs of the kings. He just didn’t matter.

Would anyone be sad if you died? I’m sure they would, just as you would be sad if someone you loved died. The reality is that loved ones of our do die, producing sadness. If however, the decedent knows the LORD, we can focus on the happiness and joy the one is encountering in Heaven in the presence of the LORD. This will be totally advantageous, and sadness will lessen over time.

So, FOCUS on the LORD! Let everything, every thought of every moment be to His glory!

I will if you will.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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.”