The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 1:23-25, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.”

There were no iPhones in James’ day. With an iPhone, one can either take a selfie to see how he looks or reverse the camera, so he can be seen while looking at the phone’s screen. So, without the aid of this modern convenience, James uses an analogy. He says that one looking at his own likeness in a mirror will soon forget what he looked like when the mirror is removed.

In contrast, James now says the one who looks at God’s “perfect law,” the law of liberty will be free from the lusts and defects of his life. If we abides in that law of liberty, we will be free from those things that impede our walk with the LORD. Note, however, that “abiding” means a steady obedience to the LORD’s directives. If we abide in Him, we will then be free from a conscience that plagues us with respect to sin. We will then be enabled to be active according to His directive and leadership.

The capstone of it all is that we “shall (then) be blessed in what (we) do.” Let me just add that leading one soul to faith in Jesus Christ produces such an intensity within us that we just want to win more and more people to Him and His cause.

There’s an old story from the Civil Way that highlights what I am saying. A sentry captured a soldier from the opposing army, and brought him in to the Captain. There was a great stir within the camp, concerning this capture. “Where did you get him?” one officer asked. And the sentry’s response was: “Why, Sir, the woods is full of ‘em! Go out an git youself one!” Believe me, reader, the woods are indeed “full of ‘em.” And once you have won someone to faith in Christ, you will not be forgetful of what you have seen in that mirror!

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.”