The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one

another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the

Father.”

This coming August will commemorate the end of World War 2, now 75 years ago. Thinking back on that era (I was only 10 when the war ended.), I recalled how much of a roll music played in our lives and the lives of men serving in the military. Songs, as Paul notes in verse 16 above, are encouraging and enlightening to those of us in Christ as well.

Paul calls our attention to three types of music: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. It’s difficult to distinguish exactly what he means because music in his day was as different from music today, just as David’s music in the psalms was doubtlessly different from Paul’s day. What is MOST IMPORTANT, however, is that the songs he commends come from “the Word of Christ” that dwells within us. I grew up on music. My folks were musicians and sang and wrote poetry and music. (Why, pray tell, did my sister get all the talent?) I love classical music, soft orchestral music, and Gospel music that glorifies Christ. I seldom have gloomy times; but when I do, good, solid Christian music brings me out of it quite refreshingly!

The key point that I believe Paul wants us to understand is that it is the Word of God that produces the kind of music that glorifies our LORD Jesus. And it is the key to our thanksgiving for His salvation of our souls! Furthermore, good Christian music teaches and admonishes us to yield more completely to Him. Study this from Charles Wesley:

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him

to God the Father.” My prayer is that both of us might be what He died and arose that we might be!

God bless you abundantly!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please keep praying for Whitney Tilson in NYC. He has heard the Gospel; now he needs to receive it.

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.”