The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 2:13-16, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-slaves of God.”

The true history of the United States reveals that people from throughout the world left their home countries to settle here because here they had freedom. Yet, even those early settlers and those who subsequently authored the Constitution, found

that freedom is never totally free. There are necessary laws that serve as boundaries, assuring that one’s “freedom” does not ignore and override the freedom of others.

Peter understood that human institutions were necessary. He also understood that the LORD was infinitely superior to all human institutions. Therefore, Christians were never to be antinomian, against the law. Further, if every governmental

official (local, state, and national) were submissive to the LORD, evildoers would be punished and the obedient would be

praised. It is ever and always the LORD’s desire that all men everywhere live correctly and in peace. Even when others do

not live as they ought, the legally obedient lives will silence the foolish, who ignore the law and live outside of freedom.

Only those who are bound to the LORD in true salvation can be considered “totally free.” And even they are not free from

their allegiance to the LORD. Peter admonishes us all to “act as free men”; yet, we are not to use our freedom as an excuse for doing wrong or evil. To say, “I am free in Christ; therefore, I can do whatever I want” turns freedom on its head. I remember so well a teacher saying, “You can do as you please –so long as you please to do right.” She understood Peter quite well. And our entire world would be at peace if every nation subscribed to Peter’s inspired insight regarding freedom.

Join with me in prayer for your nation and for mine. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Leaders, by whatever official designation, need to know and bend their wills to that of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. In that way, we can all live more freely.

“”If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36).

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,

Romans 12:18-21, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will

repay,’ says the Lord.

20 ’But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon

his head.’

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Let’s just be blatantly honest: there are some people with whom it is impossible to get along. They are simply adverse to peace at any price. Have you ever known anyone like that? If you say, “It’s a nice day,” they will say, “Well, it could be better”

or “It’s not as good as yesterday.” Paul allows that attitudes like this are true; however, even when revenge is a justifiable response, he admonishes us to be as peaceable as possible with everyone.

Paul notes for us that that we are to be kind and loving, leaving the “tough stuff” up to the LORD. It’s like leaving the bully on the school ground up to a big brother. Not only can he adequately handle the bully, but it keeps us from allowing anger to

rise up in us. Anger has a way of lodging within us, so that we become angry more easily over lesser things with which we

disagree.

No, don’t become angry! Feed the one who is hungry and give water to the one who is thirsty. They will notice the difference

in your attitude. But what about the punishment they deserve? Leave that up to the LORD! He said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” How are they going to retaliate against Him? Humm? The truth is that we rather enjoy getting back at those we don’t like. But that’s not how true Christians behave. We are to grow in the likeness of the love of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Oh, don’t miss that “heaping of burning coals” on the enemy’s head! That concept used to mystify me. What on Earth does it mean? Long story short, it simply means, “The LORD GOD will take care of meeting out vengeance.” That leaves us a clean and clear corridor for sharing the Savior with them! True, spiritual love always wins the day! Try it today! You will glorify the

LORD, and your adversary will have a new and better perspective of you.

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,

Romans 8:28, 38-39, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those

who are called according to His purpose….

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor

powers,

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ

Jesus our Lord.”

I have never been a fan of crossword puzzles. The “cuts” in the pieces have to be joined precisely to another piece; the colors have to match the colors on other pieces; and it all takes a lot of patience –more than I have, I’m afraid.

Yet, as I read the selected verses above, I realized that the same precision relates to life. The LORD “causes all things to

work (fit) together…” When Paul said “we know,” he used the word oida, which means “fulness of knowledge.” Nothing is omitted. Paul is completely convinced that “God causes all things (pas) to work together for good…” Yet, how those “things” fit together is known only to those who love (agape) God and are “called according to His purpose.”

God is not without purpose. Everything He says and does is with Divine purpose. The LORD’s will is so constructed as to benefit us, while simultaneously bringing praise and glory to the LORD Himself. He is the only one who is deserving of the honor and glory and respect.

In those two final verses above, Paul notes four “personalities,” two “time-frames”; numerous “powers”; and “dimentions,” meaning lofty things or things of depth. Absolutely nothing can separate the true believer from the LORD. So, when you view things as going wrong, trust the LORD to have anticipated all of that and already corrected it. When things go wrong and experience no correction, just know that the LORD is still in control and is working things out according to His purpose.

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,

Romans 5:1-5, “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the

glory of God.

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who

was given to us.”

It’s an open secret that some preachers have favorite themes –even favorite sermons—that they preach over and over, as

if there were no other themes in the Bible. Yet, before you criticize them, take a look at the life of a another man of God.

Once Paul came into a true, spiritual relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ, his life was so full of love and gratitude that he just kept telling his story over and over again. “…justified by faith…peace with God…by faith into this grace…hope…glory…”

The old hymn, Tell Me The Old, Old, Story, has a verse that says,

Tell me the old, old story;

For those who know it best,

Seem hungering and thirsting

To hear it like the rest.

The Apostle Paul exulted (boasted) in the “hope of the glory of God” and in “tribulations.” Tribulation builds endurance, and

endurannce builds character –proven character. And that character produces hope –hope in which there is no disappointment, because everything in life hinges on the love of God that has given us the Holy Spirit.

Moments before I penned this Letter, I was on the phone, speaking to someone who is facing some dim, possibly dark, days

ahead. Yet, it was anything but a mournful conversation. My conversant was filled with hope! Hope is not uncertain. Hope is

future certainty! When you have the Holy Spirit living within you, even the prospect of pain and difficulty are dwarfed by the

absolute certainty of the LORD’s Hand of comfort.

The old Negro spirituals reflected the hope that anchored their lives. What’s more, their hope was contagious, and we

adopted their spirituals. Yes, “…justified by faith” produces “peace with God”; and that peace is the doorway to grace and hope and glory! Yet, it comes only to those who have turned from their sin (repentance) and trusted in the LORD Jesus

for salvation.

If you have yet to trust Christ as your Savior, do it right now. Just stop reading, bow before Him, turn away from your sins,

and ask Jesus’ forgiveness. If you have already trusted Him, share Him with someone who hasn’t. It is a joy you will both

cherish for a long time to come! God bless you!

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,

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