The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 4:12-13, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the

division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have

to do.”

How do you eat steak? Let’s suppose that someone set before you the tenderest, most delicious, “melt-in-your-mouth” steak. How would you eat it? Would you gobble it down swiftly? Or would you savor it, as if your taste buds were begging for more time? If you like steak, you have already answered the question.

How do you read the Bible? Do you race madly through the words, as if you have but seconds before they

mysteriously disappear from the page? Or do you savor every word, pausing to squeeze them, as you pray for understanding?

Paul tells us that the Word of God (the Scriptures) is more than words on a page. It is a living Word! It is active, and sharp –sharper than a two-edged sword. Moreover, it pierces our very being as we read and savor it. All human beings have a body. They also have a soul and a spirit. Your human spirit is what gives you a consciousness of God. There are no genuine atheists. They are seeking to displace God from their thinking by denying His existence. It won’t work! God has placed the human spirit in everyone. Atheists are like a child, red-faced and holding his breath to spite his mother. Eventually, he gives way to breathing.

The human soul is self-conscious. It was Rene Descartes, who said, “I think, therefore, I am.” Such is true of all of us. We cannot help but be conscious of ourselves and our thoughts. Conscious of self, conscious of God. The LORD has made us so.

What is more, the Word of God reaches into the depths of our being and assesses our “thoughts and intentions.” Wow!

That should shake us up! We spend time thinking how we can cleverly conceal things from others, and the Bible says that God already knows what we’re up to and why. Have you not read this before in the Bible? It pays to read slowly and thoughtfully.

It is this God from whom the atheist seeks to hide by denial. Yet, he seeks in vain. And so do we, unless we give in to Him by faith and trust. Have you done that? If so, He is your LORD and Savior. If not, you will ultimately face His eternal wrath. What are you thinking? Be careful; He already knows!

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,

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;

14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own

possession, zealous for good deeds.”

When I was a kid, there was a strange woman who attended our church. She believed that she was a Christian and was going to Heaven because her parents were Christians. I was not yet in my teens, so I never personally discussed the matter with her. I have often wondered, however, if she would have used verse 11 as a “proof text” of her belief.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Titus, his meaning was that salvation is possible to all mankind because the grace of God had come in the person of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, no one could be saved! We should be ever so grateful to God for the gift of His Son, and follow His spiritual instructions in the Bible.

“Living sensibly” means to deny –to say No— to all worldly lusts and evil, wherever it exists throughout the world. Sin exists in every nation! I remember asking someone in Sweden if he knew what others in the world thought of his nation. His reply was “Yes,” but that the “really bad stuff” came from Denmark. It’s all much closer than we think!

Keeping focus on the Coming of the LORD helps us to resist evil. The phrase “that He might redeem us” tells us that salvation is possible for all; but it is only for those who personally accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. When we trust Him, He forgives us and accepts us as His own. We then become part of His Christian Family. Have you received Him? If not, please do it today! Then His power will shield you when evil comes with temptation. It’s a spiritual life-change! And it readies you for Jesus’ Coming! You are in my prayers!

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,

2 Timothy 4:1-5, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead,

and by His appearing and His kingdom:

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate

for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;

4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

All political candidates are in full swing as they seek to persuade voters to select them as leaders in government tor a specified time. My inbox today held acclamations from Israel to Australlia, as friends from throughout the world encouraged Americans to vote!

It is vital that we vote! What’s even more important is that we adhere to Paul’s commission to “preach the Word!” Voting in governmental elections relates to our political freedoms. Proclaiming the Word of Christ is what keeps us and others spiritually free! There is no limit to the time for proclaiming Jesus. We’re to be ready “in season and out of season.” Sometimes our preaching convicts; sometimes it rebukes; sometimes it encourages. Still, we have to be patient as we give instruction. Some learn more quickly than others.

I’m convinced that we’re living in the very time Paul references. Many today will not accept God’s safe Truth. Many will not teach it. They have invented a “gospel” of their own, and have discovered huge groups that are willing to receive it. These pseudo preachers invent their own gospel and live from the hands of those who devour it. They are thereby displacing the LORD and becoming gods themselves, filling the lives of the lost with husks of human garbage that leads away from God’s Truth and terminates in the fires of Hell.

Paul acknowledges that there are hardships. Preaching God’s Truth requires physical and spiritual strength. Simultaneously contending with false teachers, requires strength, too. Paul advocates sobriety. Don’t get off track, he is saying. Stick to God’s Word. It alone is the Truth that sets men free. We have a solemn responsibility to share Christ with the lost. Voting in a national election is vitally important; but sharing Jesus with the lost has an eternal value! Are we fulfilling our responsibilities?

Think about it! One day, we will give account of our lives. It could be sooner than we think!

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,

2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your

mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well….

15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation

through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

‘Why do I have to do this?” “Who are you to tell me what to do?” “Who do you think you are, anyway?” These are just a few of the things children often say in response to directives given them by their elders. Remember Mark Twain’s comment? “When I was 18, I thought my father was the dumbest man on earth, but when I got to be 21, it was amazing how much he had learned in three, short years.”

The LORD not only gave us parents to bring us into the world, He gave them the responsibility to train and instruct us to be what He wanted us to be for Him! Timothy’s grandmother Lois had invested spiritually in the life of her daughter, Eunice. Somewhere along the way Eunice had veered away from her mother’s Christian teaching and married a Greek (Acts 16:1). Yet, Paul acknowledges Eunice’s faith and its foundation in Timothy’s life.

I have studied the genealogical lineage of both my father and my mother, and to the best I can determine, all of my family for generations were born-again Christians. Undoubtedly, that was fundamental to my becoming a Christian and marrying a Christian girl. Our children and their spouses are all Christians, as are their children. That’s what’s basic to the LORD’s involvement in families. None of that purports to say, however, that we’ve always been everything the LORD desired. It is, however, the pattern He desires of all His people. It’s knowing Him as Savior and teaching others to know Him, too.

If you’ve yet to come to faith in Christ Jesus and become His child, it is vital that you do so quickly. In that way, not only you, but all who follow you in your family line will have the teaching of the Scriptures and come to faith in Jesus Christ.

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 Timothy 6:17-19, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty

of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life

indeed.”

Did you ever want to be rich? I sincerely doubt that there are very many who would say they never wanted to be rich. Why, think of the things you could buy! –a car, a house with a pool, and the list goes on and on. Of course, you could deceive yourself (and possibly a few others) by saying that with riches you could support missionaries, buy the pastor a new car, give his family a vacation in the Holy Land –and the list goes on and on.

Paul warned us, however, that riches often caues conceit. We’re simply not to put our hope on earthly riches of any kind!

Our hope is to be securely and forever fixed on Jesus Christ. His riches are true riches, not the silver and gold that we have

today and are gone next day. Would you believe that it is God who “supplies us with all things…” and they are thngs He intends us “to enjoy”?

Primarily, we are to do good and be good. That’s where true riches are found. We’re to be generous and to share with others what the LORD has given us. Giving to others is actually saving for the future.” If we doubt that, we’ve got the wrong kind of riches in mind. We’re thinking money and things riches can buy; He’s thinking of Heaven’s rewards!

I remember the saying, “It’’s not how much you have, it’s how you hold it.” I would go even further and say that nothing we have is truly ours. It all belongs to Him, who enabled us to have it. Think of Simon Peter and John. They were on their way to the house of prayer and in a spirit of prayer when they encouontered s blind man, who begged for his living. Peter said, “’I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene– walk!’ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened” (Acts 3:6-7).

Tell me now, who really possesses true riches? When we minister to others praying or sharing –whatever the LORD has given us– we lay up riches in our Heavenly Home. And when we share sincerely and humbly, we soon learn that there is no

hole in the bottom of the moneybag.

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