The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 1:5, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

Have you ever heard the old saying, “Nobody said it would be easy”? Well, that’s true for just about everyone: that first day in school; that first day on the job; that first surgery (for the surgeon and the patient); and for some of us, that first day in the pulpit, where everyone, I am certain, suffered in abundance!

Yet, the absolute truth is that none of us have suffered anywhere close to the absolute torture that Christ Jesus suffered. Today’s news tells of a literal door-to-door slaughter of Christians in a foreign country. Yet, the very nature of “slaughter” seems more instantaneous than a “grievous,” long-suffering death. Even the Apostle Paul’s sufferings, listed in Second Corinthians 11:23-28, as intensive as they were, lacked the vehement nature of Christ’s sufferings.

History, both secular and Christian, is replete with the sufferings of those “of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11:38). They were beheaded, burned alive at the stake, and publicly ridiculed while simultaneously being encompassed by the jeering hatred of unbelievers. None of us have ever encountered such vitrial; few in modern times have ever witnessed such.

All that being said, we should never shy away from suffering when it comes in the face of our witness for Christ! Paul here turns our thoughts away from suffering to the comfort that comes

from the One who is and provides aid and encouragement to us. Interestingly, the Greek word for “comfort” is ??????????, paraklesis, and relates closely to parakletos, Paraclete – the Holy Spirit! He is the Spiritual Doctor, who knows all and possesses all the ingredients needed for

our time of greatest suffering.

Memorize this verse from Psalm 55:22,

“Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you;

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

May His eternal blessings be yours in every trial of life that you encounter!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please feel free to pass this Letter along to those you know need the Holy Spirit’s comfort.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom