The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:24, “”But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

A night or two ago, I called your attention to Paul’s caustic reply to Ananias, who had him struck in the face, while he was giving testimony regarding his life. Perhaps all of us at some time or other have said things inappropriate to the time. Paul did not formally apologize for his remark (because it was appropriate), but he acknowledged that he was unaware that Ananias was the High Priest. That has led some of us to believe that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was his poor eyesight.

Nevertheless, in our one verse for today, Paul demonstrates the vallidity of his humility, for he considers his life of no personal account. Most of us seem to live with “self” at the center of our lives. “I” becomes the subject, the object, and the activity of all we do. No so for Paul. Still, he has no death-wish. He’s neither afraid nor wishing to die. He simply has a ministry to complete. The LORD has given him that responsibility, and to him “It’s not over until it’s over.” And that’s in God’s Hands.

Paul’s ministry calling is to “solemnly testify” (affirm) the Gospel (Good News) of the grace (kindness) of

Almighty God. A brief look at Paul’s earlier life shows how determined he was to make a name for himself. He was a brilliant and aggressive young man, known as Saul, and determined to show his elders what he could accomplish. But when he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9), his name was changed to Paul, and immediately he transfocused his zeal from Judaism to Christianity! His focus thereafter was on Christ Jesus, and he saw himself to be of no significance. Christ was all that mattered!

Only today I witnessed a former NFL pro say that the answer to our nation’s (and world’s) problems was

turning to Jesus Christ. It was a news interview and he quoted Scripture! Clearly, he saw himself to be of no value. He was not there to champion the NFL (National Football League). He was there to share what he could of Jesus Christ as the Answer to our nation’s problems of hatred, racial diversity, crime, etc., etc. That’s my calling, too. And if you belong to Jesus Christ, it’s your calling as well. All that matters is that we finish well in fulfilling our calling. I pray for you daily. I surely hope you are praying for me.

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.”