The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 3:17-21, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has

even to subject all things to Himself.”

Trying to lead by example has some built-in problems. First, and perhaps foremost, is the presumption that the “example” contains every component necessary for what it proposes, and that the person demonstrating the example is fully competent to do so, as well.

Paul is competent! The pattern he sets before the Philippian Christians and us is second only to that of our LORD Jesus Himself.

Paul’s instruction is always to beware of those who pretend to be Christ’s followers, but have a hidden agenda that draws people to

themselves instead of to Christ. Such pretenders are indeed “enemies of the cross of Christ.” The focus of these “pretenders” is upon themselves. They love the things of this world and the praise of their followers. True Christians, however, view themselves as citizens of Heaven and subjects of the LORD. They are looking “up,” in expectation of Christ’s soon return.

Setting aside the desirable things of Earth, the LORD’s true people are eagerly awaiting His Return! For at that moment, our bodies will be transformed “into conformity with the body of His glory.” The power of the LORD –identical with His power in Creation—will subject all things to Himself. At that point, even Paul’s instruction, although spiritually ordered and directly from God, will pale in comparison with the exaltation of the supreme example of Christ and the incomparable glory before which each and every one of us will fall.

Seeing that all of these things shall come to pass, and seeing that the world around us suggests that they are coming rapidly, does it not give us a clarion call to the work He has designed for us to do? The Scriptures teach that what we sow is what we shall reap. We

have a choice: work now for what wealth there is here, or work now for the wealth there is There. What is most important to you?

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,

Philippians 3:10-14, “that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,

being conformed to His death;

11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold

of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:

forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

I have a book in my library written by a missionary, a book I had never read. On one of our mission outreaches in

Mexico, I met and worked closely with the author of that unread book. My encounter with him was such that I read

the book completely while en route home. The book hadn’t changed; it was that I had met the author.

That’s what caused Paul to cry aloud “that I may know Him!” Paul had met the LORD Jesus years before while on

the Road to Damascus. But, his cry now is that he might know Him more intimately — know His power that raised

Him from the dead, know the fellowship of His sufferings. I’ve seen people suffer, but I can honestly say that I’ve

never longed to join them in their suffering. Paul saw suffering as a “fellowship” when encountered with Christ.

We might think, as some Philippians may have, that Paul was a bit “overboard” in his thinking. He knew, however,

that the Father, Who had sustained His Son in all His sufferings, could and would sustain Paul in them, too.

Paul, freely acknowledges that he has not yet achieved that standard. He’s just going to forget the past and reach

forward to what lies ahead, and press on toward the goal that promises a prize to those who answer the call of

God that rests in the LORD Jesus Christ.

I’ve read those verses above many, many times over the years. They are some of my favorite verses in all of

Scripture; yet, the only part I seem to have achieved is “not having laid hold of (everything) yet.” Maybe I think

back too much. Maybe I’m not hungering and thirsting enough for what the future is bringing. The word “reaching”

means “to stretch forward,” stretching until it hurts! Do you think we’re all too much in the present and not doing

enough thinking about the future? I think so. If we were focused on the future, we would be better in the present.

Why don’t we try doing it that way? I will, will you join me?

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,

Philippians 2:19-22, “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.

20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

22 But you know of his proven worth that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.”

In Longfellow’s poem, The Courtship of Miles Standish, Captain Miles Standish asks his friend John Alden to propose marriage to Priscilla on his behalf. Ever the faithful friend, John goes to visit Priscilla and does as requested, even though he is in love with her himself. Priscilla guesses John’s true feelings for her and declares, “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?”

In the last Grands Letter, we looked at the importance of “attitude.” Intentionally or not on his part, Paul continues that theme, only

he looks at the situation from the standpoint of the one in authority. Paul is imprisoned at this time in his life, and while he would love

to visit the Philippian Church, he has decided to send Timothy in his place. Why Timothy? Simply because he possesses a “kindred spirit.” Timothy is like Paul in that he is genuinely concerned for their welfare.

While the two above paragraphs lack a smidgen similarity, they both show genuine concern for others. Being the shy person that I am,

let me boldly ask you: “How concerned are you for those around you who are in need?” Do you pray for them? Do you share the Word with them? How concerned are you? Are you aware that the Scriptures teach, “…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Lk 13:3, 5); and that that verse speaks directly of some of your friends?

When the LORD saves us, we are committed to Him and His purpose. He doesn’t call all of us to the same vocation in life, but He does call each of us to share His death, burial, and resurrection with those who do not know Him. To some, that means missions; to others,

Is may mean medicine or pastoral ministry or business. He calls us to various job-positions in life in order that we may come in contact

with others, who need His saving grace, and might not hear it otherwise. Let’s ask ourselves: Are we “of proven worth”? or are we seeking after our own material interests instead of the eternal interests of Jesus Christ? Seeing that Heaven and Hell both exist, what

is more important, His interest or ours?

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,

Philippians 2:5-11, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

In 1946, a man named Truett Cathy opened an eatery in Atlanta, Georgia and called it “Dwarf Grill.” By 1993, he had 500 restaurants. By 2010, he had 1,500 restaurants. In two more years (2012), sales had reached $4,000,000,000 — that’s BILLION! Want to know how he did it? On the spiritual level, it was prayer; on the human level it was “attitude.”

No, money is not everything; attitude is! That’s why Paul emphasized attitude in the lives of all believers. Give me a few moments of conversation, and I will know whether or not you’ll be successful. How? Your attitude! Cathy’s restaurants today serve good food. Some of it is unique. But it’s not cheap. So, why do people keep coming back, back, back? If you’ve ever been to a “Cathy place,” you knoiw the answer. It’s the attitude of the employees.

Jesus’ attitude was one of submission to His Father. When God the Father decided to create the universe in which we live, He appointed His Son, Jesus, to be the Constructionist. Paul tells us that Jesus did not regard His equality and position with the Father in Heaven as something to be grasped with retention. He was and always has been willing to do His Father’s will. He said so in John 8:29, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” Attitude!

My guess is that you know someone who has climbed the “success ladder,” who has never had a good attitude. “So there!” you say. “How that for your essay on attitude?” My answer is simply that you have not read all of the verses listed above. The person you know may have made money, but he will doubtlessly never, with a bad attitude, be exalted by God. He will never possess an acceptable name in God’s sight. No one will ultimately bow the knee in reverence to him. But on one significant Day, he will bow before Jesus, and he will acknowledge that the Christ, whom he ignored in life, is THE KING. And with all that Christ Jesus did for mankind by dying on the Cross and rising from the Tomb, He did in obedience “to the glory of God His Father.” That’s the supreme attitude!

What is your attitude? Have you trusted Christ Jesus as your LORD and Savior? If not, why have you not? And if you have trusted Him,

what is your attitude toward unbelievers? Are you lovingly witnessing to them about Christ? If not, why not? Give your attitude some serious thought. Yield it, along with everything in life, to Jesus. One day, you’ll be glad that you did. God bless you!

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,

Psalm 2:1-12, “Why are the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand, And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed:

3 “Let us tear their fetters apart, And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury:

6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee.

8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Thy possession.

9 ‘Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.'”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.

11 Worship the LORD with reverence, And rejoice with trembling.

12 Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

For some days now, the streets of Hong Kong have been flooded with people, angry that the Chinese government reneged on a promise of freedom they made when Hong Kong was transferred from Great Britain. Now, the streets of Tehran are overflowing with angry people – angry because the Iranian government is giving money for nefarious purposes to other nations rogue governments, while depriving the Iranian people of basic needs, while raising the price of gasoline on its own citizenry.

Yet, all of this rage emerges from a deeper source than politica. It’s a spiritual unrest that demonstrates its resistance against the LORD Jesus Christ. The source is spiritual, regardless of the nation. This psalm reveals the source of a host of rampages throughout history.

When any people seek to live life without the guidance and sustenance of the LORD, they are doomed to failure. When unrest in the human heart reaches the boiling point, a host of unforeseen things occur.

The laughter of the LORD in no way signals His delight. He is like a frustrated parent, whose instructions are shrugged off by a rebelious child. “Didn’t I tell you,” the parent asks, “that you would hurt yourself doing that?” God’s Word is provided in numerous languages, that the world’s people might avoid the adversities we view today. Governments that waste the substance produced by its own people are hardly different from the people, who resist the Truth and blessing God has provided through His Son for all mankind.

Governments and their nations are severely warned: “Worship the LORD with reverence, and rejoice with trembling.” Worship the Son, Jesus Christ. Commit your lives to Him. His Divine LOVE is strong; yet, so is His anger toward those who resist Him! Blessing is promised to those who live for Him; wrath is certain for those who do not. The “worship” to which we are called will produce rejoicing.

Do you know Him? The only escape from His ultimate wrath lies in your commitment to His blessed Son, Jesus Christ. He loves you, and wants you to love Him, too.

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.”