The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

3 John 1:8, “Therefore, we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers with

the truth.”

Things that are large often create more attention than things that are small. But should they? Some books contain over 700 pages; but are they better than a book of only 130 pages? It all depends on the purity and accuracy of the content.

The Apostle John wrote this third letter many years after the Resurrection and Ascension of

Jesus Christ. It has only one chapter of 14 verses, but contains some valuable advice for the early church. What appears to be the essential thrust of the letter is that Gaius and others always walk (live) in truth. Just stick with the truth of the Bible!

He also commends the church for entertaining strangers –people who embraced the same biblical faith, but are personally unknown to the church. I’m grateful for John’s emphasis on

this because I’ve often been the “stranger,” who was welcomed into the homes of believers.

Whether John also intends to subtly contend for missionary activity, I’m not sure. Such was the thrust of the early Church; yet the apostle urges the opposite in his second letter (2 Jn. 1:10), when he warns against allowing anti-Christian “missionaries” into your house to share their anti-Christian religions.

John then draws focus on two men with respect to their personal attitudes. Diotrephes, whose name translates, “cherished by Zeus,” is unfortunately, still with us! He was one of those who thought he knew everything and, therefore, should be the only one to decide who should be allowed in the church, either as a member or simply as a visiting brother. Unfortunately, church “bosses” have outlasted the Apostle John now by some 2,000 years.

Demetrius, on the other hand, was a model Christian. It’s interesting to note that his name is

the same as the Demetrius of Acts 19, who opposed the Apostle Paul’s denunciation of the Greek goddess, Artemis. Is it possible that the two men could be one and the same person?

In any event, John found this Demetrius most commendable. Yes, we should commend the

commendable in our churches; and we should oppose and pray for the Diotrephesians.

In summary, therefore, John’s advice reaches us through the centuries saying, “Let Christ live

in and through your life.” Be a model believer; be missioin-minded: pray for and support those who are sharing the Gospel in foreign lands. Don’t be too big for your spiritual britches! Work

with the godly leaders in your church and earnestly share Christ with the lost.

What a challenge we have! Yet, Christ is with us!

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.”

Dear Grands,

2 John 1:7-8, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not

acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may

receive a full reward.”

Do you know people who latch on to whatever comes along? I knew a woman who said,

“Whatever my pastor believes, that’s what I believe.” Well, it’s commendable to have a pastor

in whom one can have confidence, but sometimes that confidence can be overly misplaced. When it is, everything resident in Scripture falls into uncertainty. Years ago, one pastor was overheard to say, “I don’t believe all I hear preached. I don’t believe all I preach.” That’s extremely dangerous, even if it were to have been said in jest.

Faith is far too valuable to be linked with any person other than the LORD Jesus Christ. In his first letter, the Apostle John wrote, “…even now many antichrists have arisen…” (1 Jn. 2:18). John was not speaking of the Antichrist, but of those who resembled him in that they were preaching contrary to Holy Scripture. A whole lot of such men dominate the scene today!

Jesus Himself said, “See to it that you be not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand’; do not go after them” (Lk. 21:8). He cites many things in that same passage as warnings to us. Just be careful. I’m not seeking to discourage your confidence in your pastor; but I am urging you to “fact-check” every pastor and teacher of the Word, myself included.

Why is all of this so important? Read the text above. What does it clearly say? The first reason is that what has been accomplished thus far in the church, might not be destroyed. And the second reason is that believers might not lose their Heavenly reward. The two are inextricably connected.

Some days ago, the President of the United States awarded a Medal of Honor to a soldier for his bravery in saving a life on the field of battle. I can assure you that the soldier did not have that honor in mind when he risked his life to save the life of another. Nevertheless, the medal existed. If money and prestige and the like are so valuable to us on Earth, why would we want to lose what the LORD has as a reward for us in Heaven?

Find the pastor-teacher who loves the LORD and faithfully preaches and teaches His Word! Just remember that you alone are responsible for your belief in what is taught!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

Dear Grands,

I John 1:3-4, “…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may

have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son

Jesus Christ.

4 And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”

The one sure way to persuade anyone of anything is to have experienced it yourself. Saying, “I think this is what you need” will not cut it. Saying, “I’ve been where you are, but I’ve changed. I have a new life! You must experience this new life I have discovered! You will never regret it.”

Such an invitation is almost always to someone we like, admire, or love. Why is that true? It’s true because we quite naturally think first of our relatives and friends. This letter from John is to those he knows and loves. We love our friends and our joy is to see others’ lives filled with joy, because when their lives are joyous, our lives are joyous, too.

Above all, however, we love Christ Jesus! In chapter four of this same letter John says, “We love, because He first loved us.” Think about that! When we truly love others, it is because the LORD Jesus Christ has loved us. There is no “true” love outside of Him!

There are three separate and distinct words in Greek that translate as “love” in English. Only two of the three appear in the New Testament. As we come to know others, we often begin to like them increasingly. Sometimes, our feelings for them grow, and we even say that we “love” them. Yet, all of that “love” has its origin in the LORD Jesus Christ. If it doesn’t, it’s less than His “true and pure” love.

John writes that we all may know and embrace the richest of all love. With it we love Him; and through Him, we love and embrace all people. Love abolishes fear, and we become His witnessses, demonstrating His love and sharing it freely with others. It this true of you? Do you

love people as Christ did? If not, get closer to Him, and His love will flow through you to others.

May our blessed LORD so fill us all with His love that its overflow will smother whatever negative attitudes or feelings others might express!

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.”

Dear Grands,

II Peter 1:2-4, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus

our Lord;

3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness,

through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by

them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that

is in the world by lust.”

Have you ever done something so terribly wrong that you began to doubt whether the LORD

would ever forgive you? If you have, this Second Epistle of Peter will be a soothing relief to

your worries. Denial itself carries something of a negative stigma. When it pertains to the LORD Jesus Christ, it soars away beyond serious. Yet, for those of us who are believers, the denial of anything – even that of which we are not guilty — sends a punch to the pit of the stomach.

Three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Then he was “found out!” Would he ever recover from such devastating sin? By the grace and peace of God, he did! And so can we!

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan is said to have lost his faith for a number of years. Yet, when he returned to LORD, he studied only the Bible. Studying Galatians, he went on to write that “love is the essential attribute of God. Joy is the consciousness of love; peace is the confidence of love; longsuffering is the habit of love; gentleness is the activity of love; goodness is the quality of love; faith is the quantity of love; meekness is the tone of love; and self-control is the victory of love.”

While sin is always justifiably punishable, bear in mind that it is love –His Love—that resides

beneath the punishment. And no matter how far we may roam from His design for us, His

love always abounds for our redemption. Peter discovered that! And so can we! Give God the opportunity to demonstrate His grace in and for your life.

On an appropriate wall in the house hangs this poetical reminder:

A Mother’s Heart is a special place

Where children have a home;

It waits for them througout the years,

No matter where they roam.

God’s love is like that, only more so! Much, much, more so! If you’re one who has roamed,

rest assurred that the LORD is waiting and longing for your return. If God had a middle name, it would be “forgiveness.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary,

you have been distressed by various trials,

7that 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.”

Are you facing any serious trials? Quite honestly, I am. Some are more serious, of course, than others; but when we’re faced with difficulties of any kind, it’s it big to us. When our trials are compared with those of others, however, they often seem small and sometimes even insignificant.

Peter knew all about trials. Remember when he suffered rebuke from Jesus for slicing off that servant’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane? Then he suffered more greatly when he denied knowing Jesus –three times! Yes, Peter knew all about distress. Yet here in the verses above,

he tells us to rejoice when we’re distressed. Why would he say that?

First of all, trials are only “for a little while.” They often seem like they’re forever, but they’re not. What they are is a “proof of your faith.” Sometimes we encounter trials we simply cannot believe are from the LORD. “Why, LORD,” we cry, “are you doing this to me?” Sometimes it’s not from the LORD, but a trial that He is allowing. Whichever is true, He is in control! So, don’t get distressed!

When the trials are all over, they will “be found to result in praise and glory and honor” of the LORD Jesus Christ. And remembering how He suffered for us, how could we not endure suffering for Him?

When I had troubles in earlier times in my life, I used to get really upset. Rose Marie would

start singing this little chorus –

Cheer up, you saints of God

There’s nothing to worry about;

Nothing to make you feel afraid,

Nothing to make you doubt.

Remember Jesus never fails,

So, why not trust Him and shout?

You’ll be sorry you worried at all

Tomorrow morning.

Things got right very quickly!

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.”