The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Good or bad, I’ve been gifted with a sense of humor. Sometimes, I get a bit goofy, talking to people I’ve never met, but as if we had known each other for 40 years! A tall man nearly hit my cart in Walmart the other day. I looked at him and said, “Uh, I never mess with guys who are bigger than I am.” He smiled and his wife laughed out loud.

Hidden (I trust not too much) beneath my attempt at humor is a genuine love for “the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ.” When I hurt (and I often still do), I am reminded that it is “His great mercy (that) has caused (me) to be born again (from Above) to a living hope.” And from where does this “living hope” come? It comes “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Had Jesus Christ not risen from the dead, His death on the Cross would have had little to no meaning. But, He did rise from the dead and that gives us an unusual inheritance! –not of itself “able to perish,” or to “be(come) defiled.” Further, “it will not fade away,” disappear or become meaningless. Instead, it is reserved in Heaven for those who have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

The same powerful love of the Father that sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins, now protects us through faith for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last days. Do you not see the turmoil in our world today? Those who have done wrong, go unpunished; those who have lived honestly, are subject to lies, ridicule, and often imprisonment and death. I have preached in numerous countries around the world, and without incident. Yet, I would be hesitant about returning to some of those same countries today, due to their furious hatred of my Christian faith.

Listen, dear reader, we are living in the last days of human history! Our only hope is in the protection of Almighty God! Mission fields, some of which I have visited, are now rife with unrest, often due to their own political unrest and mismanagement. Missionaries need our prayers! Our hope lies only in the LORD Jesus Christ, and in the power of Almighty God, who protects us. Today was someone’s “last day.” Tomorrow may be yours or mine. Live courageously! Share “the Faith once delivered to the saints.” May God help us all to be living for Him, when He Comes to take us Home!

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,

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.”

Dear Grands,

James 1:19-21, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

James pastored, what in New Testament times, would have been considered a sizable congregation. He has just spoken to them of the LORD’s will and that it included them being witnesses of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection from the dead. Then, he compliments them by saying, All of that you know, my beloved people. Certainly, James was honest in his appraisal of the church he served, but he was preparing them for a scolding they richly deserved.

The three-worded phrases he uses says it all: quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Far too often we, too, are eager to hear something bad about someone –even within the church body. Why is that? Are we not all Christians? Yes, we are, but we have not fully renounced our sinful natures. Moreover, as soon as we hear it, we cannot wait until we have told someone else! Are we so spiritually small, that we think telling something on someone else makes us look bigger, more intelligent, more sophisticated? I’m afraid so.

What is worse than being a tattle-tale, or more correctly, a gossip? Whoa! says James. Be slow to anger, also. Being angry achieves nothing, especially not the righteousness of God. Is it for anger that He saved us? Absolutely not!

If you were a lost person and looking for a spiritual answer to your problems, would you trust the witness of a gossip? –someone who loved to share bad things about other people? Someone who was controlled by anger? Absolutely not!

Now you can understand James’ warning. So put aside those things that are evil-producing! Be humble, like the LORD Jesus Christ, and truly receive and believe His Word that led you to salvation by faith in Him. For it is then, that we are free to share our faith in Him with those looking for a spiritual answer to their problems. God bless you! Now, get out there and GO!

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,

James 1:17-18, “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.

18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.”

I once received a check, but had no idea from whom it had come. You see, the sender forgot to sign it! I finally realized who the sender was and wrote him a poem, including the check that lacked his signature. It was a risk because he could have been offended, but being a Christian, he took my humor in good sorts, and returned the check with his signature.

Almost every Christmas or birthday, someone in the family receives a card from someone who failed to sign it. Sometimes we figure it out, and sometimes we never know. Yet, there is no question concerning the origin of good and perfect things. They all come from the LORD! Good (agathos) also means “kindness” or “generous.” Perfect (teleios) means “complete.” It has reached its ultimate; it is thoroughly mature. Nothing better can be viewed or known.

All of this relates to the LORD God Almighty! He is always seen as “Above”; thus, blessings “coming down” are to be always viewed as from Him alone. His identity as “the Father of lights” notes Him as Creator. At the same time, He is in contrast with the heavenly “lights,” such as the sun, moon and start. The sun varies in its intensity of heat. The LORD does not vary. The sun causes “shifting (of) shadow(s).” The LORD is always the same.

Everything good and perfect that occurs in life is “the exercise of His will.” Our salvation, too, was the exercise of His will. His Truth, whether proclaimed from the pulpit or shared by a friend, brought about our salvation. Yet, we are but the “first fruits” in our generation. His purpose in reaching us with His Good News is that we might, in turn, reach others with it, also.

Are you reaching others? Is that your basic intention each day? Are you praying for someone who needs salvation? Gifts that are given on special occasions should not be left unused. The givers want to see that you appreciated their gifts. So, it with the LORD. When we appreciate His gift of salvation, we want to share it. And that is exactly what He wants, as well.T

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,

James 1:5-6, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

James commenced this epistle with an emphasis on faith. Believers in the LORD (Christians) actually became believers when they

exercised true faith in the LORD for forgiveness of their sins and in His promise of Eternal Salvation. But James knows from Scripture and from life experience, that not everyone who says he is a Christian is a true believer. Thus, he says quite literally, “But if any of you lacks wisdom –maybe you do, maybe you don’t— let him ask of God…”

Salvation comes only from the LORD God. Man’s works are the product of his Adamic nature, therefore, man can only be saved by a thoroughly righteous God. When he asks, there is the promise that “it will be given to him.” At the same time, man must ask in faith! And that faith must be thoroughly clean from all doubt. Nothing is clean until it is thoroughly clean! And only God can thoroughly clean man from his sin.

But, why is there the warning about “faith without doubting”? It is because the one who doubts is all over the place, just like the seas that are driven furiously by the winds. Those who are not thoroughly faithful, can never know what true faith is all about. They ask of the Father, but are never sure whether He will answer. And if He does, they’re not sure it will contain all that they have asked.

Remember this: God ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER! Sometimes, He says, “Yes!” Sometimes, He says, “No!” And sometimes He says “Wait!” Still, we must never doubt that He has heard us, or that His answer is in our best interest. Just trust Him. He is never ever wrong!

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.”