The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Coninthians 11:22-28, “Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.”

Once I finished school, I found I had to present the transcript that demonstrated that what I had learned in school had prepared me to do the job for which I was applying. Not always did a potential employer see the actual, official transcript, but there had to always be something official to back up my contention that I was prepared to accomplish what they were hiring me to do.

Such was the way with the Apostle Paul. No, he didn’t always rehearse the difficulties he had conquered en route to where he was he was headed. But there are always times and people who need such information, if only to “cover” themselves if you or I don’t achieve the requirements employers expect and demand.

In the verses above, Paul cites the following:

1. His physical birth and ancestral heritage (v. 22)

2. His spiritual birth and physical impairments (vv. 23-25)

3. His multiple and diversified dangers (v. 26)

4. His physical labors and hardships (v. 27)

5. His heavy mental and emotional pressures (v. 28)

Let me challenge you to read those seven verses again. Read them slowly. If you’ve read much of the New Testament, you will commence to think of the times and places where many of these troubles occurred. You might ask, “Why are you wanting us to read those verses again? And why are we to read them slowly? Those are fair questions; let me answer them the best I can.

First, we need to understand that these are not mere lines on a page in a book. These are REAL dangers, some of which are being experienced by Christians today –right while you are reading! Second, we need to compare the heavy burden Paul bore, with what little we encounter when we seek to witness. Paul ultimately gave his life for preaching the Gospel. We often get discouraged and feel upset when someone smirks at our witness and cracks a smart remark that hurts our feelings.

Try making a transcript of your spiritual work for the LORD. List in one column on your paper the times you remember being ridiculed and laughed at and endured snide remarks. List in the other column what Paul notes of his persecutions. THERE IS NO COMPARISON between the two! It may be time we quit feeling sorry for ourselves and actually get into the battle! I can guarantee you that you will not be alone –unless you forget the LORD who fights by your side!

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,

2 Corinthians 6:1-2, “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain–

2 for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you”; behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation.”

I had been looking for a particular item and found it in just the right color. I was busy, however, and didn’t make it to the store on time to get the sale price. I truly could have hurried, but why? Stores are always having sales; that item will be available when I get around to going to the store.

Surprise! The next time I checked – the preferred item was no longer on sale! In fact, it was at a much higher price than I ever expected. I lost out because I didn’t “strike while the iron was hot.”

Some people are like that with accepting Christ. I remember a friend whom I urged to accept Him. My friend said I was right, he knew he needed Christ, and said he would accept Him –“just not right at this time.” That has been years ago now, and to the best of my knowledge (if he is still living), he never accepted the LORD Jesus as his Savior. There’s a saying that states, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”

There is an “acceptable time,” yet if that time is ignored, the opportunity can be lost forever. The apostle urges everyone to accept Christ while the opportunity is still available. The more I read the Scriptures and the more I learn of world affairs, the more I believe that time is truly running out! The opportunity for salvation is now! But, I hear you say, “Well, all of that may be true, but Paul wrote those words around AD 57. That’s over 1900 years ago. And the old clock is still ticking! I’ve got time yet.”

You know what’s missing in that attitude? It’s all the blessings one receives from knowing Christ and being forgiven of all your sins. With an attitude like that, one won’t even make it to Heaven! I’ve recently read testimonies from entertainers and sports athletes, who say that they have accepted Jesus Christ and are enjoying life like they’d never known it before. Their lives have been literally turned around!

What about you? Are you truly a “born-again believer?” If not, why not? What have you got to lose? Only your sin, and the Hell that awaits those who die without Christ. And if you’re already a believer, are you telling others about Him? If not, why not? Don’t you see the urgency? I receive a lot of email from all over the world. One writer’s email always carries this caption at the very end: Everything can change in a heartbeat… Think about that! Now, get busy!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. I have some Eastern European friends, who are attempting to emmigrate into the United States. They are Jewish believers

whom I have known for many years. As you probably know, President Trump is tightening some aspects of the immigration

policy, and while I agree with the President, I am concerned that my friends might get their “green cards” before the policy

goes into effect next October. Several Americans join me in asking for your prayers for these dear, worthy people. Thank you!

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,

2 Corinthians 5:20-21, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

A man I knew years ago in Australia, founded and organized a Christian group called “Ambassadors for Christ.” It was dedicated to evangelism and the growth in Christ of those who embraced the Gospel. Believe it or not, I met one of their Ambassadors in India!

When I was a kid, the Southern Baptists had a boys’ organization called “Royal Ambassadors.” I’ve forgotten a lot of that now, but some passages of Scripture –passages we were then required to memorize—still bring to mind that organization and what it was designed to accomplish in our lives. What I fear was missing is what is missing in all of our lives today; namely, the begging, entreating of the lost, to be reconciled to God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Ancient history tells us of parents who gave their children in human sacrifice to gods that did not exist! (Only today in church, a man seated in front of me, held a precious little baby. I reached up and put my finger in its little hand. It looked at me only briefly, but I cannot conceive of parents giving the life of their child in human sacrifice!) Yet, that is precisely what God our Father did with His Son, Jesus!!

Jesus had never known sin! Oh, He knew what sin was, and He knew it existed in mankind; but, until He went to the Cross, He had never known sin in so intimate way. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed fervently, “Father, if it be Thy will, let this cup pass from Me.” He was not afraid to die. He knew from where He had come; and He knew where He was returning after His resurrection from the dead. It was “becoming sin” that He abhorred! He had witnessed the awfulness of sin in the lives of others. He knew sin’s power! Yet, His prayer, “…not My will, but Thine be done,” indicated His willingness to become what was loathsome to His divine nature, in order that those whose lives were saturated with sin, might freely be made “the righteousness of God!” Oh, what LOVE!!!

It is that LOVE that compels us to witness to others! It is that LOVE that transforms the lives of the lost into what God the Father desires them to be. Jesus, at 33 years of age, became His Father’s human sacrifice on the cruelest of executions ever known to man! In that execution, Christ’s blood was intentionally shed because “without the shedding of blood (HIS Blood!) there is no remission –no forgiveness—of sin” (Heb. 9:22).

Think of the privilege we have! We are the Father’s Ambassadors to the World-at-Large! Ambassadors that witness to who Christ Jesus is and what He has done for us, enabling us to be forgiven of our inherited sin from the first man, Adam! Have you enabled your inheritance? You can be forgiven of all sin! Simply repent. Tell the LORD you are sorry for your sin and that you want Him to forgive you. He will. He lives for that very privilege. Are you then exercising your privilege as a believer? Are you sharing the witness of Christ with those who are lost like you were? Think of this: to fail to witness to the lost is tantamount to offering them as human sacrifices to an evil, pagan, lifeless god! If that doesn’t stir you spirit….may God help 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,

2 Corinthians 2:14-16, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?”

Have you ever thought of the Gospel as having an aroma, an odor, a smell? Probably not; but it does! Paul says in the verses above that when we witness to others of the saving life of Jesus Christ, we are a sweet fragrance of Christ. That fragrance is primarily detected by God Himself, but it affects the lives of all of those whom we meet and with whom we speak.

Nobody likes an aroma that stinks! I once knew someone who needed something to mask the putrid, breath-taking aroma that the body put forth in abundance. This person was a believer in Jesus; and everything I knew about that one was spiritually acceptable. It was the physical that needed attention! Even Paul thanked the Philippians for the “fragrant aroma,” calling it “an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18).

Think about what Paul says in our verses above: God (the Father) manifests a sweet, delightful aroma through us, as we spread the knowledge of Christ among those that do not know Him. In fact, he says that “we are a fragrance of Christ to God.” How is that possible? People who work with animals on a daily basis, often smell like those animals.

People quite naturally absorb whatever odors they absorb on a daily basis. So, if we live with the LORD daily and absorb His Word, we will reek with the sweetness we have absorbed from being in His presence!

Think about this: When we carry with us the Divine Odor of the LORD, the acceptance we receive even from unbelievers, demonstrates their awareness that we possess something they do not possess. Yet, it is something they desire. That gives us the opportunity to share our faith in Jesus Christ, praying that they will come to faith in Him, also.

Still, “who is adequate (sufficient, worthy) of these things?” Those who work in the midst of foul odors and absorb them, need to bathe and free themselves. Those of us who live daily in the presence of Jesus Christ, are already spiritually clean. What is the odor of your life? Do others see and know that you have been with Christ? Or do you need to spiritually bathe because you have strayed from Him and His Word? Think about it and do what is necessary to bring Glory to the LORD! The LORD loves a sweet smell.

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,

1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

All of the Bible is instructive, but this verse is often overlooked. The 15TH Chapter of 1 Corinthians is the Resurrection Chapter. Paul has just just concluded his instruction on the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ. As a capstone to the chapter, he admonishes his audience (including us) to be steadfast; that is, we are to be settled in our minds with respect to the LORD’s sacrifice for our sins. After all, who could challenge Christ’s ability to forgive sin, when He raised Himself from the dead?

We are also to be immovable; that is, so settled in mind regarding our salvation through the LORD Jesus Christ that we are incapable of changing our trust and love toward Him. When I was a child, this verse gave me no little difficulty. I believed the Bible to be totally without error. I still do! Further, I understood what it meant to be steadfast and immovable. What troubled me was how one could be steadfast and immovable while abounding at the same time? It’s amusing to think of that now, but when I was seven or eight, that really puzzled me.

The key to understanding the verse (as I now view it) is that steadfast and immovable are spiritual and mental attitudes, while abounding adds physical to the equation. It’s initially vital that we know and believe Christ. It then becomes necessary that we excel in sharing the Good News of His death, burial and resurrection with others, who have never heard or believed.

There’s always an assurance in our work for the LORD. What is it? It is the assurance that our excessive labor and energy will not have been for nothing! He’s not promising money per se; what He is promising is far more than silver and gold. His promise is productive rewards here and hereafter. Don’t miss out on those rewards!

And don’t miss out on being their, either! Trust and Obey!

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.”