The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 John 3:1-3, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.

3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

There’s an old idea that says that the first child born into a family takes after the opposite parent. If the first child is a boy, he will tend to be more like his mother. If the first child is a girl, she will tend to take after her father. It doesn’t always work out like that, but it’s amazing how often it does.

John says that the great love of our Heavenly Father is bestowed on us. That’s why we’re called “children of God.” Yet, when those around us look at us, they don’t see the likeness of the LORD because they don’t know Him and because it’s sin that keeps us from looking like Him. When He comes –and He IS COMING AGAIN!—we will then be like Him and everyone will then know who our Heavenly Father was all the time.

Those who knew my parents always said that I looked like my mother. That was a compliment to me, but hardly to my dad!

As I look back on my childhood, I think my dad wanted me to be –maybe not to look—but to be like him. I think all dads want that of their sons. But, I know for certain that my parents both wanted me to look more like Jesus than like either of them. You know what? That’s just the way I feel now. Seriously, my three children, not withstanding the good and wholesome lives of their own spouses, would all do well to be like their mother.

Why would I say that? I say it because she wanted them all to look like Jesus! And that’s what each of us should want for our children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I receieved a lot from my parents. They modeled Jesus in their lives, and they led me to faith in Him. And that’s what I continue to live and pray for: His likeness in them and in me. There’s a GREAT DAY COMING! Jesus Christ will soon return and the Bible says that we who know Him will be caught up into the air to meet Him!

Are you one of “His children”? If not, I urge you to trust Him right now –right where you are! And if you have already trusted Him, do others know it? Can they discern your spiritual parentage –because you look and act in love like Jesus? Just don’t miss that last verse above:

“And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

May the LORD cleans and purify us and make us ready for His soon return!

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.”