The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:24, “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

While the Acts of the Apostles was carefully and accurately written by Luke the Physician, we do not generally take our

theology from it, as it is concerned with the early history of the Christian Church. It does, of course, contain theology, as do all other books of the Bible, even though it was not written for that purpose.

The Apostle Paul was en route to Jerusalem, hoping to get there for the Day of Pentecost. When he arrived in Miletus. he sent word to the leaders of the Church in Ephesus that he was coming and wished to visit with them briefly.

Sometimes the most delicate, yet forceful, things we can say are revealed when our listeners least expect them. Such were the words of Paul –words in our verse above. Paul had been warned about going to Jerusalem. In the eyes of the Jews, Paul was a “wanted man!” And those who hated him and his message of salvation in Christ, wanted to kill him! The men at Ephesus, who met him on the seashore, pleaded with him not to go. What Paul said in response has set the standard for every believer in every age of Christian History.

I do not value my life as it relates to myself. I value it only as it is necessary for me to complete the

ministry responsibilities the LORD has given me; that is, that I might testify solemnly and seriously

of the grace of God through the Gospel He has provided me (my wording).

The Question that I faced as I read and re-read Paul’s statement was: How do I value my life? Does it really matter whether I live or whether I die? What truthfully matters is whether I am faithfully fulfilling the ministry that He assigned to me. I know that one day I will have to give an account to God for how I lived my life and whether I was faithful and true

to His Word. As a born-again believer in Jesus, you, also, must face that question in your own life.

Where are you with Him? Are you thoroughly dedicated to His Cause or to your own? What are you doing to share the

Good News with others? You have a telephone; you have a computer; you have the Internet; you know lost people.

Are you telling them of Jesus’ Death on the Cross for their sins? Are you sharing with them that He arose from the dead, and is alive in Heaven today? We may not have much time! People who die without Christ are doomed to an eternity in Hell. I’ve missed some opportunities that give me great regret. Don’t let that happen to you!

I am praying for you! Please pray for me. And let’s commit to Paul’s value of witnessing for Christ Jesus!

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.”