The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:76-80, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare
His ways;
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us,
79 To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child continued to grow, and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public
appearance to Israel.

Have you ever looked upon a newborn child and wondered what it’s ultimate purpose in life would be? That’s undoubtedly
what Zacharias thought when he looked upon his son, John. His words were actually addressed to the child. Notice that
he said, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High…” How could Zacharial hve known this? He knew it
when back in verse 67, he was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” It was a prophecy the LORD had given him.

John’s purpose was to show the way of salvation to the people of Israel. That’s the calling of pastors and evangelists
today. We are to tell the world that God is willing and available to forgive sin. We are to shine the Gosple upon those
who live hopelessly in darkness. Without His Light, man stumbles and falls. He lives alone in the shadows of death.

Knowing the LORD’s will with their son, John’s parents reared him in the way of the LORD. Oh, that parents today
would train their children in the way of the LORD! John’s parents were godly; thus, the pattern of their lives overshadowed
the life of their son. At some point, John left home and lived in the desert, separating himself from all except the LORD.
When we train our children in godly ways, they will continue in those ways; they will live apart from the ways of the world,
and will radiate the life and the love of Christ to those about them.

What a challenge lies before us! We are to live His life before our children that they, in turn, may one day live His life
before their children. For in so living, the world may be drawn out of the shadows of darkness and death and come to know
the life-giving love of Christ Jesus. Find your purpose in life and fulfill it to the glory of Almighty God!

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