The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 1:1, “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,”

Were I to ask you what you do in life, the likelihood is that you will respond by saying, “I work for UPS,” or some such

company that employs people and gives them a wage. You might say, “I am an attorney,” meaning you are self-employed.

Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with being a businessman or a professional or simply a menial, low-wage employee. Everyone needs a financial income and everyone has a right to work so long as it’s a legitimate enterprise and a legitimate source of income.

Paul’s birth name was Saul. He was born of Jewish parentage in the City of Tarsus (today’s sourthern Turkey). All Jewish boys were taught a trade, and Paul’s father taught him tent-making (Acts 18:3). Later, as he grew older, Paul was sent to

Jerusalem, where he studied Mosiac Law and all things Jewish under the learned Gamaliel. He spoke of himself as “a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee” (Phil. 3:6).

Yet, after his Damascus Road experience, where he met the LORD Jesus Christ, and his life was transformed, Saul’s name was subsequently changed to Paul, and he viewed himself as a “slave” (doulos) to his LORD Jesus Christ. He wrote the Philippians saying, “…whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Phil. 3:7).

Yet, the foremost word in our Roman’s verse above is the word “set apart” ??????????? (aphorismenos), “selected, separated for a special purpose.” Is that not what we all are in a special sense? In Second Corinthians 6:17-18, Paul wrote, “’Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,’ Says the Lord Almighty.”

In the midst of this study, I am reminded of that sweet little children’s song that said…

Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,

Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see,

For the Father’s up Above, looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.

Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear,

Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear,

For the Father’s up Above, looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.

Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say,

Oh be careful, little tongue, what you say,

For the Father’s up Above, looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say.

Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do,

Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do,

For the Father’s up Above, looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little hands, what you do.

Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go,

Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go.

For the Father’s up Above, looking down in tender love,

Oh, be careful, little feet, where you go.

(Be thankful I didn’t sing it to you!)

Always think before you act: “Would I do this if Jesus were standing beside me?”

And then realize: He always is!

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