The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 1:21-23, “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,

22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach–

23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”

Perhaps you read about a mother and daughter who were reconciled after many years –or a father and son, who had become estranged over a trivial family matter, and how they came together after hearing each other’s true accounts of what happened. Stories like these are multiple in daily news throughout history. So, Paul’s letter to the Greek Colossians is not altogether different.

Salvation was offered first to the Jews; then, when they rejected it, the Gospel was offered to the Greeks (Rom. 1:16; Acts 18:6). It was the Greeks who were “formerly alienated,” self-excluded from the way of salvation. The Greeks were also “hostile in mind,” they hated the thought of salvation. At first, they did not want or think they needed the spiritual life that was offered. Yet, in time, they came to value it.

They heard the Gospel, repented of their sins, and were reconciled to God! Why would God save them? So that they could be holy (sacred) without even spots of moral deficiency and “beyond reproach” (blameless) and presentable to Him. Would you ever consider meeting the Mayor of your town, or the Governor of your state, or the President if you were wearing a dirty shirt or unshined shoes? Of course not! Why, then, would you think of meeting the King of Kings and LORD of Lords with unconfessed sin in your life?

You won’t need to worry about such a situation with respect to the LORD, IF you continue to be faithful and continue to hold to hope (future certainty) that is displayed for you in the Bible! But don’t get proud –only thankful—because this same Gospel is not exclusively yours. It was and is being proclaimed to nations throught all creation. Paul knows, because he was called to be a minister of this Truth. And you know what? –so were you and I.

May our Blessed LORD Jesus keep you prepared and sharing His witness,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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,

Colossians 1:19-20, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him,

20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

Take a serious stroll through history. Examine those who have ruled over others. Excite yourself over those who have reveled successfully in warfare. Drool over those who have emassed millions in gold, silver, diamonds and other precious stones; those who have built castles that turned back unbelievable armies. Yet, in all your examination over the centuries, there is none like Jesus!

These warm and glorious words from Barnes have no peer:

This is to us a most precious truth. We have a Savior who is in no respect deficient in wisdom, power, and grace to redeem and save us. There is nothing necessary to be done in our salvation, which He is not qualified to do; there is nothing which we need to enable us to perform our duties, to meet temptation, and to bear trial, which He is not able to impart. In no situation of trouble and danger will the church find that there is a deficiency in Him; in no enterprise to which she can put her hands will there be a lack of power in her great Head to enable her to accomplish what He calls her to. We may go to Him in all our troubles, weaknesses temptations, and needs, and may be supplied from His fullness – just as, if we were thirsty, we might go to an ocean of pure water and drink.

How is all of this accomplished? Rose Marie and I spent the day in hospital. No, we hadn’t been in a fight, nor were we injured. She simply needed a blood transfusion. And with that transfusion, she looks and acts like a newly rejuvinated lady! We thanked one of the nurses for her assistance, and said, “We are grateful that we can receive life from the blood of another, but we are most grateful for the blood of Jesus Christ, whereby our sins are forgiven and by which we have Eternal Life.” Although what we said was not what she expected, the nurse enthusiastically agreed. The blood of Jesus Christ reigns supreme over all.

We all make mistakes. Christ Jesus alone was without sin. So, when you are “down,” when you feel discouraged and question the value of living, reread the paragraph above by Barnes: “We may go to Him in all our troubles, weaknesses temptations, and needs, and may be supplied from His fullness.” God bless you abundantly! We have no failure when we live in Him!

Loving and praying for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. I’m attaching a piano arrangement from my sister, Carol. The words are printed below.

I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame,
And nothing satisfying there I found;
But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came,
Where springs of living water did abound.

Chorus:
Drinking at the springs of living water,
Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy;
Drinking at the springs of living water,
O wonderful and bountiful supply.

How sweet the living water from the hills of God,
It makes me glad and happy all the way;
Now glory, grace and blessing mark the path I’ve trod,
I’m shouting Hallelujah every day.

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,

Matthew 1:1, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham…”

Mark 1:1, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Luke 1:13-4. “it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”

John 1:1-3. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”

If I were to say to you that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the four Gospels, you might ask why there are four of them. The answer is simple:

Matthew wrote to the Jews;

Mark wrote to the Romans;

Luke wrote to the Greeks;

John wrote to the Church (the believers).

There is really only one Gospel, but it must be shared with people of different cultural backgrounds. Paul wrote to the Colossians saying, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person (Col. 4:6).

Each of the four groups had distinguishing backgrounds. If the Gospel were to be effectively shared with them, it must be “packaged” in their culture, explaining things they would not have otherwise known. When I was in Papua New Guinea, I learned that there are no sheep in that region –none at all! So, telling them that Jesus was “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29), makes no sense to them at all. Missionaries have to share the Gospel with native people when it’s wrapped up in their culture. We have to do the same thing; we just don’t think of it in the same way.

I’ve found that Jewish people really speak their minds! Sometimes they snap at you. I snap back!

Responding to them with their own method of communication works. It was “foreign” to me at first, but I soon got used to it and it was effective. Just remember that LOVE is the key. We’re not trying to win arguments; we’re trying to share the Love of Jesus Christ with people who are imprisoned in sin. BE Christ-like! Understand the culture of their work and home. Show concern for their souls. Don’t get sidetracked on sports or politics! Keep your eye on the ONE you want them to see: Jesus!

Praying for you this week,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Please remember to pray for Rose Marie. Her hemoglobin is down again and she needs blood.

Attn: Nurses! You know who you are. -??

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,

Colossians 1:11-14, “So that you may be… strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

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

13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Seminaries are strange places –probably, due to the strange students that attend them. I remember well a

fellow-student asking, “Professor, do you think Paul prayed as much as he said he did?”

The professor was prime in his reply. He snapped, “I’ll tell you what I think! I think Paul prayed a lot more than you and I think he did.” Indeed Paul did pray a lot. He prayed that the Colossian Church might be sufficiently strengthened with the power of the LORD that it might be steadfast in the faith and joyfully thankful for all the LORD had given them, and for all He would ultimately give them on the day of eternal rewards.

We must remember that, like the Colossians, we have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer and has forgiven us of our sins. Don’t lose sight of that! I’ve met many people who have slipped back into sin after having been saved. Such people often then doubt that they were ever really saved. Don’t fall into that trap! James and John plotted to sit beside Him in the coming Kingdom. Simon Peter denied even knowing Jesus! Yet, they had been saved, and were ultimately allowed to write letters (books) that are included in the New Testament. Salvation does not mean instant perfection. It mean we’ve taken the initial step in walking with Him by faith.

Salvation comes in three tenses: We have been saved. We are being saved. We shall be saved. If you’re not residing in one of these categories, you need to be saved. Just tell Him that you are truly sorry for your sins. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and take control of your life –every facet of it! He will take control and you will begin to grow by His love and grace. The Christian life is joyous and spiritually productive!

We pray daily for you as you pray daily for others,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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,

Colossians 1:7-10, “…you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. For 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, 10 so 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…”

Isn’t it an encouragement when we learn that something good we have said about another believer has become an encouragement to the believer himself? Epaphras must have felt good in his heart, too, for the opportunity he had to share good things about the Colossian believers.

When Paul learned the Colossians’ faithfulness from Epaphras, he increased his prayers for them. We should always pray for the lost and errant believers. At the same time, we should pray fervently for those who are increasing in the faith. None of us are truly “filled with the knowledge” of God or His will for our lives. That’s why we need to pray fervently for each other.

We need increased knowledge of God and His will for our lives. We need divine wisdom and understanding. It is those spiritual ingredients that enables us to live godly lives –lives that in everything are pleasing to the LORD. We don’t always know how influential our lives and words are on others. I’m thinking now of someone

to whom I witnessed years ago. To my knowledge, she has yet to come “full circle” to Jesus Christ. Yet, I still pray for her. We all need to pray for others, both the saved and the lost. And our lives need to be lived to the glory of Jesus Christ. That will be the influence needed to support the words that we speak.

God bless you abundantly, as you yield your life to Christ today,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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.”