The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 3:27-30, “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from

Heaven.

28 “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’

29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him,

rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full.

30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

It is often said that education is the way to a wealthy position in business. Yet, there are multiple students

who have achieved the education without the position or the wealth it was purported to bring. You may not think John the Baptist knew much about either. After all, he came in from the wilderness, clothed in camel’s hair and having eaten locusts and wild honey. What can a guy like that tell us about education or wealth?

Yet, John had the key! He said, without the slightest fear of successful contradiction, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from Heaven.” That’s as true a statement as any! That is not to discourage anyone from advancing educationally or in business or in obtaining honest money for the service he renders. It’s simply saying that the LORD is the giver of every good gift. We should never fall under the belief that we, in and of ourselves, are responsible for anything we possess. The wisdom and energy success requires always comes from God!

In John’s illustration in verse 29, Jesus is the Bridegroom; the Church is the Bride; and John the Baptist is the friend of the Bridegroom –the one who listens and then declares to all mankind the consummation of the marriage of Christ and His Church. Then the guests then rejoice!

John concludes by saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Obedience to this concept is sorely lacking among Christians today. We give to support the LORD’s work, but we want others to know how much we gave. We witness of His saving grace, but we want others to know that we were involved and how many responded to His loving grace. STOP!! Learn from John: the LORD Jesus is the Bridegroom! He is the One to be exalted! We are His children, His people, His missionaries. We amount to nothing unless He is glorified. Yes, “He must increase, but (we) must decrease”; because “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Prov. 16:18). Prayerfully consider what is at stake here. Just don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. And if there’s telling to be done, let the LORD do it!

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.”