The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:8-12, Epaphras “informed us…of your love in the Spirit.

9For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you

and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every

good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

We often pray for those whose lives evidence the absence of the Holy Spirit. That’s certainly not wrong; however,

Paul mentions the other side of the pattern for our prayers when he notes that he prays for those who “love in the

Spirit.” Maybe we take for granted that believers don’t need prayer like unbelievers do. Well, they do! The author

here prays that believers “may be filled (controlled) with the knowledge of His will…” and with a focus on “spiritual

wisdom and understanding.”

His purpose in saying that we should be controlled by the Spirit is “so that (we) may walk in a manner worthy of

the LORD.” We should want to please Him in everything we say or do. “But I’m so weak,” you say. Not if you

depend upon Him, you’re not. He strengthens us with His power, in proportion to “His glorious might.” Don’t be

impatient! He provides the steadfastness (???????, hupomone, endurance). Do everything joyously! Give thanks

to the Father. Remember that it is He who “qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

In summation: Learn all you can by daily reading of God’s Word. Acquire wisdom in the process by allowing His

Spirit to instruct and control you life. Pray for the lost and the saved. Remember that it’s all accomplished by His power, so give Him the glory! Not only will CHRISTmas have new meaning; your life will have new meaning! He is

not only “the Reason for the Season,” He is “the Reason for All Seasons!” God bless you abundantly!

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.”