The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 10:28-31, “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to

destroy both soul and body in hell.

29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 “Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Have you ever been in the midst of something, only to be called away to consider something different?. In the verses before us, Jesus was in the midst of ministering, when He called His disciples aside to instruct them in how to minister the Gospel to the people-at-large. Witnesses often encounter difficult situations, some possibly due to public occurrences. Care should always be taken when speaking with strangers. Nevertheless, Jesus dispelled all fear, teaching that the Father is both watchful and consistently protective of His own.

Christ’s words in the verses above indicate that man can experience fear and even death, so far as the body is concerned. Yet, the soul is always under the protective security of the Father. Our human souls are of infinite value to the Savior! What is

the value of a human soul? Sparrows were virtually worthless on the monetary scale. Two of them were worth one assarion,

the smallest, copper coin in the realm at that time. Our English text renders is “a cent,” but it was worth much, much less than

our cent. Jesus’ point is that despite the virtual worthlessness of a sparrow, they never escape our Heavenly Father’s observation.

To that He adds, “…the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” As moronic as it might appear, I think of that verse every

time I run a comb through my hair –and, yes, individual strands of hair fall helplessly to the floor. Is God truly keeping track of

how much (or how little) of my hair is retained each day? Or is that thought simply an indication of His eternal watchfulness? It

could be either. After all, how could we question God’s ability to keep count of human hairs when He created the universe?

We are instructed not to live in a state of apprehension! When we have repented of our sins and believed upon Jesus as our LORD and Savior, we live freely and constantly under His divine protection and inestimatible care.

Live in the Word, dear friend! Pray constantly in all you do and encounter! Trust in the LORD always! You have no better or competent friend.

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,

Acts 21:10-14, “And as we were staying there for some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In

this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'”

12 And when we had heard this, we, as well as the local residents, began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound,

but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”

There are indeed some very interesting and tender moments in biblical history. Agabus is mentioned only twice, both of which are in the Book of Acts. Both times, Agabus is avowed as a prophet. He had previously indicated “by the Spirit” that a great famine would prevail over all the Earth, and indeed it did. Now, this same prophet, predicting what he alleged was by the word of the same Holy Spirit, that Paul’s entrance into Jerusalem, would result in his being bound and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. Interesting, too, is the visual demonstration that Agabus used, taking Paul’s own belt and binding his own hands and feet, simultaneously alleging this to be a divine revelation of the Holy Spirit.

The assembly of believers were thereby convinced that Paul should not venture to Jerusalem. Paul, on the other hand, was resistant to the prophecy of Agabus, despite the tearful pleading of his Christian friends. Why Paul would resist Agabus’ prophecy, especially when it was someone he knew to be a valid prophet of the LORD? Paul and Barnabus had met Agabus in Antioch (Acts 11:22-28); but before we conclude who was right or wrong in this situation, we need to look ahead at what actually transpired. Both men were right. Agabus was right in what he predicted, and Paul was right in going to Jerusalem. The people who witnessed Agabus’ prophecy were also right when they said, “The will of the LORD be done.”

The emphasis we must not miss is that of Paul. The congregation was weeping, as it urged Paul not to go. Their sincerity grieved Paul to the depths of his heart. Yet, his response was that he was ready to be bound as a prisoner –even to die for the name of the LORD Jesus! This is the ultimate act of dying to one’s self. For when we truly die to “self,” there is nothing at all that matters, except the glorification of the LORD Jesus Christ. And that is what a true believer’s life all about! Are you a “true believer”? Think about it carefully before you answer.

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,

Acts 20:24, “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

Last evening I watched a football game on television. One of the teams was Pitt, and that brought to mind a long-time friend, who was offered a football scholarship to Pitt. What made it all interesting was that Bill never played for Pitt. Instead, he elected to lead the singing for his father, who was a traveling evangelist. Bill gave up a cherished collegiate football scholarship to engage in what many would call an insignificant role in the LORD’s work! But, the truth is, there are no insignificant roles in the LORD’s work!

Dying to the “self factor” is never easy. It was undoubtedly more difficult for Paul than we could ever know. He was an outstanding graduate of the top conservative Jewish school of his day and studied under the celebrated Gamaliel (Acts 22).

He had a brilliant mind, and after his conversion, became as enthusiastic for Jesus Christ as he had been for Judaism.

He might have looked upon himself with great pride –but no! He considered his life of no personal account. His ministry

was totally focused on bring glory to his LORD, Jesus Christ!

The LORD certainly knew what He was doing when He arrested Paul on the Road to Damascus. He knows what He is

doing with respect to your life, too. Yet, as long as we consider ourselves “something,” we are truly nothing! We only become

valuable when we die to ourselves and live only for Him. Remember that simple saying,

Only one life; it will soon be past;

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

The life that you have, the air that you breathe, the health, the mind, the so-called natural abilities – are all from the LORD!

They were not granted to you for your own purposes. They are His gifts to you by which you may glorify Him! Sometimes, He

is forced to cripple us or withdraw those abilities because they have usurped His rightful intention. No, it’s not too late to repent. He can restore those abilities. He can make you what you ought to be –what He intended; yet, time is swiftly passing. Think about it! You have life because He wills it so. Use it from this day forward for His glory alone!

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,

Hebrews 6:16-20, “For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of

every dispute.

17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose,

interposed with an oath,

18 in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we

who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of

Melchizedek.”

With the confirmation of a candidate for the United States Supreme Court underway, it seems appropriate to bring forth this passage for consideration. When we sign important papers, they are very often required to be signed before an official. That is a legal confirmation of who we are and the legitimacy of what we are affirming.

The Apostle Paul (whom I studiedly consider to be the author of Hebrews), affirms that God gave an oath to His people that

His purpose was forever unchangeable. Furthermore, inasmuch as it is “impossible for God to lie,” we are and shall forever be encouraged. This unchangeable purpose of Almighty God further serves as “an anchor of (our) soul(s).”

I have known people who were never certain about their salvation. Theirs is a sad situation. They awaken one morning with a

absolute certainty that they are in Christ Jesus –yet, the next morning, they are unsure. They are lacking in faith –faith that God has spoken clearly in His Word; faith that He is “able to keep them” eternally. They are like a boat without an anchor. They “float” from one position to another, never knowing, “…never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7).

Interestingly, those who are unsure about their salvation and never unsure about that legal paper they signed. They trust the companies that insure their homes, their cars, their multiple acquisitions of value. They just cannot trust the LORD! Their souls are clearly untethered. Yet, God, allowing Who He is, cannot lie. It is unequivocally impossible!

Do you believe God? Is your faith and trust totally and thoroughly resting in Him? I hope and trust that it is! If you’re not sure,

ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your life! Ask Him to confirm your salvation through His Word. Then, read the Word and you will become sure. You will anchor your soul in Christ Jesus!

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,

Matthew 6:25-26, “”For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall

drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

26″Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father

feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”

Do you worry about things? Important decisions in your life? Health? Finances? Why do you do that? Anxiety is another word for worry. Jesus was very explicit when He said, “Stop worrying! Stop being anxious, and I mean it!” The word anxiety is clothed in the present, active, imperative form in Greek! But, why would the LORD forbid it?

One reason, is that excessive worry can be very harmful to the human body. It can affect the heart; it can affect the blood pressure; it can affect the digestive system; it can affect memory. It’s just not good to worry. The more we worry, the worse off we become.

Another reason not to worry is that worry is the opposite of faith. Yes, we need to eat proper foods; we need to drink a sufficient amount of water every day; we also need to guard our bodies against too much sunlight and against the cold. Missionaries are often confronted with the lack of these things when they go into foreign countries to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some have even been embarrassed by those they were there to reach: for they asked if the God they served could not take care of them! Ouch! That is precisely what Jesus meant.

He cites the birds of the air. “…they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns…(yet) your heavenly Father feeds them.” Are the birds more important to Him than you are? We must learn to trust the LORD in every situation, at every turn in the road. He alone knows what lies around the corner or what circumstance you or I are going to face tomorrow or next week.

Just a few verses beyond our verses above the Scriptures instruct us saying, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (v. 34). Don’t worry about tomorrow. The LORD has a way of taking care of it. There’s enough going on today, for us to concern ourselves about tomorrow. Turn your mind to the strengths and powers of the LORD. He has proved Himself sufficient again and again. Stay in the Word! Keep up with praying! Bury your thoughts in Him with His thoughts. Simply, trust and obey.

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