The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 6:1-3, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise),

3 that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the Earth.”

Recently, I viewed a documentary that dealt with some serious issues in which children younger than

teenagers were involved. That prompted my reading of the above verses and utilizing this space to

warn everyone (children and adults) of our responsibility to keep our eyes on Jesus and adhere to His every command.

We are all children until we either reach the respected level of adulthood or live apart from our parents. Some would perhaps wish to read that first line as “…obey your parents when they are in the LORD.” Yet, that is NOT what the Scripture says. If you have not reached adulthood or continue to reside in your parents’ home, you are to be subject to them. The Greek word “obey” (?????????) is

a present, active imperative verb, second person plural, which includes all “children” and emphasizes the command to submit to parental wishes.

To “honor” one’s parents means the children are to respect and revere the parents, inasmuch as they have authority over all who reside in their house. The value of this to the LORD is noted in that the commandment is the first in Scripture to carry with it the promise of long life on the Earth. In the practical sense, if one never learns to respect and obey his parents, he will never grow into adulthood with respect and obedience of any authority, legal, moral, or corporate. The Home is the preparatory level for all life-learning.

Parents, too, have the counter-responsibility to “train up a child in the way he should go” –that way being the way of the LORD as noted multiple times in Holy Scripture. Children, such as I viewed in the documentary mentioned previously, go bad because their parents are either bad themselves or neglectful to engage in proper training of the child. Still, unwise parents are no child’s excuse for involvement in unwise activities. The problem with juveniles today arises from the lack of good parental instruction. And the reason for the lack of good parental instruction lies with the parents’ parents! The LORD has great and glorious things for those who follow His commands!

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,

Ephesians 4:29-32, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

“Where in the world did that come from?” I can barely recall hearing those words. They came from a mother, who heard her small son use an exclamation never heard from her or her family. No, it was not my mother; nor was it from me. I told you yesterday that I never used any kind of “gutter” language. Had I ever done so, you would not be receiving this Grands Letter just now. If I could but recall the occasion of that exuberant, effusive language – but I cannot.

We all do say things, however –expressions that are totally out of place for any occasion. Paul says, “Stop it! The only words you should ever use are those that edify or build up the other person; and even then, only words that the moment requires. Use kind words that give grace and benefit to both you and the hearer.”

From the moment we repented of our sin and trusted the LORD Jesus Christ as our Savior, we received the Holy Spirit, who now lives within us. He is both the “seal” of God and God’s “downpayment” against His full and complete Redemption. The Spirit is there to guide our thoughts and words as well as our actions. When we fail to obey His instructions, it grieves (?????) and distresses Him, much like an earnest and loving parent is distressed when his child doesn’t obey.

We must obey and cooperate with the Holy Spirit in expelling from our lives all “bitterness (??????) and wrath (?????) and anger (????) and clamor (??????) and slander (?????????), along with all malice (?????)” –five important words we need to study and expel forever from our lives!

Further, we must learn and incorporate into our minds and hearts three vital words on the positive side of the ledger: kind (???????), tender-hearted (???????????), and forgiving (?????????). And why must we incorporate these words, including forgiveness? It is because Christ has forgiven us for our sin against Him, sin that is far and away greater than any sin anyone has committed against us.

You can do this! The indwelling Holy Spirit will help you do it! And God the Father will be glorified!

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,

Ephesians 4:25-28, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.

28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.”

Paul is not seeking to prove that the Ephesians –even Ephesian Christians – always spoke falsely. They were human and possessive of fallen human natures, so all things that could be categorized as untruthful, were as much a part of the Ephesians as everyone else. Still, there are many kinds of falsehoods. Paul’s instruction is that all things false must be eliminated from the Christian life.

Anger grips a lot of us. I don’t get angry the way I used to; but as a kid, I had a ferocious temper! I never cursed, never used the LORD’s name inapproiately, but I very often got steamingly mad! That tempered fell away a lot after I got married. To be sure, from time-to-time, my wife and I disagreed on things. But we sought always to forgive each other before bedtime.

Anger confuses those who employ it. They get so “steamed up” they cannot put together a good argument; besides all of that, it opens wide the door for Satan to gain control of your life. You may even believe that you have gotten everything straightened out, but Satan has rushed the door and gained an entrance. He will then cause all kinds of future trouble!

Theft follows anger quite closely. Anger confuses thinking, often causing one to believe that things not his are “absolutely” his! Paul’s mandate is that we start “performing with (our) own hands what is good.” The Smithsonian Channel aired a good series some nights back. I don’t always approve of shows they air, but this series dealt with how food was produced in early American days –food that provided good jobs as well as nourishment in the days of the Great Depression. Yes, there were conflicts among some of the early food producers, but the emphasis was that each man had ideas that he produced; and a host of people lived through the Depression with jobs and sufficient food because of it.

Do you really have cause to be angry? Are you so very much in need that you have to steal? What talents do you have? How can you share them with others so as to make their lives easier? Have you really thought about it? We’re not here for ourselves! We’re here by the grace of God, and we need to share His and other things with others! Give all of this some serious thought. It’s in the Bible, so you know it’s right!

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 4:17, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

There may not be any conclusion to any stated principle anywhere in the Bible that is more forcefully direct than the verse above. I have taken it somewhat out of its context to enable a more flexible usage to the multiple aspects it has when applied to our individual lives.

Let’s take the concept of people and put that into the equation. What is the right thing to do with regard to people? Well, of necessity time is again involved. I met and conversed with people today at Walmart. That time has now passed, so those people can no longer figure into our “right thing to do” equation. I met a new

girl working at the bank when at Walmart. Time was short there because I was not the only patron. Yet, I took time to hand her one of my Gospel Tracts entitled, “It’s Not How You Play The Game, It’s Which Team You’re On.” And I told her that I wrote it –because the of something you wrote, personalizes it and gives impetus toward reading it.

I also met a young family in a rather narrow aisle of the pharmacy section. He instructed his little girl (maybe 7) to get out of my way. I told him she won’t be in my way; then, I said, “You were once that size, weren’t you?” He smiled and answered, “Yes, I was.” I said, “The best thing you can do for your kids is to keep ‘em in Sunday School.” He immediately and quite forcefully agreed. “The problem today,” I said, “is not children; it’s the lack of good parents.” He agreed even more forcefully. Once again, people were the thing and time brought them together. Do you see how this works?

When we have the “Main Thing” in focus, time means reading, writing, working, playing, resting –all with respect to Jesus Christ, who is (or ought to be) our “Main Thing.” His Holy Spirit, who indwelled us from the moment of our repentance of sin and our faith and trust in Him, lives to direct our time and all things that vye to fill it. We need to refocus on how we use our time. If we are focused on ourselves, we will spend time doing what satisfies us alone. If, however, we are focused on Christ, the Spirit will direct and fill our time. And we will then and there know the right thing to do! For if we fail to know and do it, it will become sin to us; and then the LORD will not answer our most earnest prayers. Think about this! Keep HIM in focus – always!

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 3:13-16, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

Have you ever been a member of a church that was involved in calling a new pastor? If you have, you should be greatly interested in what kind of person he really is! Selection of even a committee to interview pastoral candidates and/or administrators should its self be wise and understanding. While I want to believe that most pastoral candidates for a church are wholesome and honest men, truth often skews to the edge of the boundary line when delicate questions are asked. James has a solution for that: check the man’s “good behavior” in areas where he has previously served. Check his “deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” We can learn more about others when we are gentle, softly inquisitive, and possess an honest inquiry of ourselves.

James says that jealousy is a vile trait in anyone! Instead of developing one’s own skills, the jealous person simply criticizes someone whose skills are better. Jealousy is blatantly unfair and accomplishes nothing. Moreover, a jealous attitude is often simply one person’s attempt to put another person “down.” Sometimes the critic is attempting to “feather his own nest” in the process. He may appear to have spiritual wisdom from the LORD, but he doesn’t! His “wisdom” “is earthly, natural” and sometimes “demonic!”

Jealousy and selfish ambition always produce disorder and chaos, neither of which results in anything of true value. It is worthwhile to conduct a careful investigation of anyone, especially someone who is a potential minister or teacher or even a life companion. Yet, such an investigation should be conducted prayerfully and carefully. And spiritual investigations always start with an honest search of our own hearts. Have you searched your heart lately? Now that I mention it, I’d better search mine, 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.”