The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 2:12-15, “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…”

Parents don’t always know what their children are doing when they’re not together. In many situations (perhaps, I should say most), it is the nature of the children to absent themselves from their parents in order that they can do what they please.

Christians are people, and they were people before they were Christian people; therefore, while we might well wish otherwise, the truth is that adult Christians too often behave like children in that they want to absent themselves from the LORD and do as they please.

Paul encourages the Philippian believers to accomplish what the LORD saved them to accomplish. He wants them to allow their Christian spirituality to demonstrate that they had indeed been saved. Further, he tells them that the LORD is within them, producing through them that which He intends for His good pleasure.

Whatever there is to do, Paul says, do it without “grumbling or disputing.” That is the proof positive that you have been “born from Above,” and are thoroughly different from the “crooked and perverse generation” in which you are currently living. With Christ as your Savior and the Holy Spirit living within you, “you appear as lights” of Glory and Hope in this cruel, evil, and contentious world.

Believe me, when I say that this world is “SICK” and hungers for “something” –something of which they know nothing! Nor will they ever know unless we who know Jesus share Him with them in love. When God is at work within us, love is the spiritual outcome. So, let His Love gush out from you and bring hope to this world!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please remember in prayer my sweet daughter-in-law, Valarie. She is currently en route to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Pray that the doctors there will be able to diagnose her problem and offer a remedy. Thank you for praying for her!

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.”