The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 8:26-30, “’I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the

things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.’

27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

28 Jesus therefore said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My

own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

29 “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.”

Have you ever listened to someone speak who was so far above your learning that it made no sense to you at all?

This is precisely what Jesus encountered from the Jews when He spoke to them. Jesus was speaking about His Heavenly Father. He was sharing with them what His Father had given Him to share. This is what He intends of us when we have come to know Him as our LORD and Savior.

Jesus speaks to us through His Word, the Scriptures, just as He spoke verbally to others in His day. He was “lifted up,” crucified, as the Father’s Own Sacrifice, to save us from our sins. When we truly believe this and accept Jesus as God the Father’s sacrifice for us, He makes us His spiritual children. It is then that we are given the Holy Spirit, who leads us to “always do the things that are pleasiing to” the Father.

When our lives are yielded to the Holy Spirit’s control, our speech and behavior become what the LORD wills. And this change in us becomes noticable to others, especially to those who have previously known us. The difference others see in us causes them to listen as we share with them the change that Christ Jesus has made in us. The Scripture above says, “As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.” And as we share with others what Jesus has done for us, others will come to believe in Him, aslo.

It’s not all that hard. It is the LORD who makes us different and teaches us His Word. The change in our demeanor then gives support to what we share in testimony. If you have trusted Christ Jesus, He lives within you now. If you have not yet trusted Him, do it today. Just pray and ask Him to forgive your sins and to make you His spiritual child.

You will then begin to grow in His likeness; and His Word will have true meaning to your life. And you will notice the difference, and so will your friends. God bless you abundantly!

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,

John 4:3-5a, Jesus “left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.

4 And He had to pass through Samaria.

5 So He came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;

6 and Jacob’s well was there.”

Have you ever gone out of your way to share Jesus with someone? The example of Jesus in the passage above should give us courage to witness to others. Traveling from Judea to Galilee is about 70 miles and takes a little over two days on foot. Despite the hatred the Jews had for the Samaritans, Jesus elected to go there, knowing the opportunity He would have to bring them Life.

Water is something we cannot do without! And knowing that the disreputable women of Sychar would be drawing water in the heat of the day, Jesus went to Jacob’s well with the sole purpose of sharing His salvation. It was an intentional witness, the pattern of which we could easily follow. Jesus used physical water to introduce His Living Water to a thirsty soul.

When was the last time you intentionally shared Jesus with someone? Jesus used the water at Jacob’s well; you and I could use the CHRISTmas Season. Joyful lights and the simple “Merry Christmas” greeting are clear and genuine opportunities for a segue into the real Christmas Story. Far too many are caught up only in the glitter of the Season. Yet it’s the Person of the Season that can truly change their lives.

I discovered people more willing to listen when Billy Graham was conducting a crusade in our city. Billy was a notable personality, and people were eager to know about his message. It’s the same with the Christmas Season. Be intentional in sharing Christ this Christmas. Jesus is mankind’s only hope! Humanity is thirsting, and we must not fail to share the Water of Life! Think of those you know who are spiritually thirsting, who need to know Him and His Water of Life. Then, pray and share a personal word of His Love through email, through a personal note in a Christmas card, or through a phone call. You’ll be amazed at the response! What’s more, you’ll be spiritually blessed and refreshed in your soul.

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,

John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

It has indeed been a blessing to my life to have met and conversed with some notable people. Traveling occasions such encounters. Some were notable for what they had accomplished, others for what they had acquired. Residents of all nations seem ready to introduce their notables to foreigners who pass their way.

That was precisely what occurred when John the Baptist was asked, “Who are you?” John’s reply turned thoughts away from himself as he introduced them the LORD Jesus Christ. It was John’s calling to introduce Jesus, just as it is ours today. Centuries had passed since the Scriptures had foretold the LORD’s deliverance of His people! The world was in a total mess, and religious leaders were grasping at power and wealth, as if those were the elements that would turn the world upright.

John’s introduction of Jesus is as valuable to our world today as it was in John’s day. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” There is no other solution! What’s more, it is the LORD’s solution for all mankind in every generation. There is no other one who can straighten the gargantuan mess we’re in other than Jesus. He alone can take away the sin of the world.

But, how does He do it? He does it by forgiving the sin of those who believe in Him and turn willingly away from their sin. There are millions of people in this world. How is He to reach them with His salvation? He reaches them through us, just as He reached those of His day through John and others. It is our responsibility to introduce others to Him. Is there anyone more important than Jesus? Is there any task more vital than our sharing Him with others? Think of what He can do for those you know. Think of what He can do for the nations of our world!

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,

John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

As a small boy, my mind could not grasp how God could have always just been. Everything that I knew had experienced a beginning. How God, who was the author and builder of all things, could have preexisted all He had authored and constructed was beyond my comprehension. It still is. There are things that lie just outside our mental grasp. We are permitted to reach for them, but never to fully understand them. We can see, and grasp a portion of their function, but we can never fully lay hold of them, much less explain them to others. Our understanding, however hindered, however limited, must rest upon what is called faith.

Believing faith admits God into our equation. We cannot (and will never) fully understand Him or His workmanship. Yet, His existence alone explains things that otherwise can never be mentally grasped. We know that we are alive, but we must know Him before we can know why. It is His Supreme Life that enabled our mortal life. But for what purpose? It is He who gives light –understanding— to us all. He is our Light; and by it He penetrates the darkness.

His Light dispels darkness, yet darkness lacks the power, the design, to dispel Light.

How then are we to grasp or attain to His understanding? For that, He has given us His Word, the Holy Scriptures!

The Scriptures are His Light that dispels our darkness of understanding. He enables us to grasp the meaning He displays in Scripture, but not before we recognize and accept His Divine Supremacy! He moves through Scripture to reveal to us His Son, the Word, the LORD Jesus Christ. When we then utilize the faith He has allowed us, we fall before Him, asking forgiveness for our sin of unbelief, whereupon He forgives us and transforms us into His own.

Has anything like this occurred in your life? I remember when it happened to me! It is real! It’s like seeing through your eyes for the first time! It sets us on the pathway of understanding and gives Light to the meaning of life. And for that, we continually Love and Praise the LORD for His unspeakable Gift!

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,

AS Psalm 146:1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

2 I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

3 Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.

4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.

5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God;

6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free.”

If you truly know the LORD, and if you meditate upon Him and feed daily upon His Word, you will come to trust Him and praise Him for everything in life! Death is a certainty to us all. Yet, while we live, His Word teaches us to praise Him in all things.

It is easy for us to look to others for our deliverence, yet it is God who delivers us from all the negatives of life. We are warned not to trust “mortal man” because man has no power like the power of God. To be sure, the LORD often uses others to aid us in times of distress; still, we should look beyond them and give praise to Him. For even the help we receive from others, has been provided and directed by the LORD.

Only today, I received an email from a missionary who has fallen on hard times physically. Doctors and hospitals and carefully guided home care and rest have become her life for now. Still, her praise is directed to the LORD. Medical help itself is a product of the LORD’s provision. Historically, it was those who prayed and trusted the LORD for direction, that were initially guided into the discoveries we utilize today. There is ultimately no help in any situation apart from that of the LORD Himself. The Scriptures tell us that He “made Heaven and Earth, the sea and all that is in them.” Furthermore, the LORD keeps faith with all His creation, including the needs of mankind.

The LORD also “executes justice” for those who are wronged and defrauded by their fellowmen. It is He alone who sets us free from the imprisonments of hunger and injustice. Let us, therefore, look to Him alone with joy and thankkgiving. Stop right now and thank the LORD for what He is doing to bolster your life! His Light will guide and comfort you, regardless of how hopeless your situation currently seems. Just praise the LORD! That’s our part. The restoration we earnestly seek is for Him to affect.

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