The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy

has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven

for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by

various trials,

7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire,

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ…”

With the “run” on the stores to purchase items suspected to become scarce in the days ahead, it is needless to say that some people are indeed in a mode of panic. I, for one, have stayed dutifully home, obeying the orders of those who know much more about this situation than I. Those who raid stores to deplete their shelves of items, are either selfish or thoughtless of others, or both!

The verses above reminded me of standing near Peter’s home in Israel. For it was Peter who praised the LORD for our being “born again to a living hope.” Come what may, the LORD is our strength and shield.

We are “protected by the power of God through faith…,” despite the trials that war against our minds and souls. Peter notes quite clearly that “the proof of (that) faith…(is) more precious than gold,” because gold perishes, and true faith does not! Do you have that kind of faith?

In the end, Peter says, “even though (we be) tested by fire,” –and is there a testing more horrendous than fire? — we will “praise and glory and honor (the LORD), whether at the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ or at our going to meet Him. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was more correct than possibly he himself knew when he said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Fear is the antithesis of faith. I, for one, was excited to hear President Trump call our nation to into a Day of Prayer. Prayer in faith is the key to everything! May our gracious and blessed LORD Jesus grant us increased faith as we increase our prayers.

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.”