The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Job 23:12, “I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”

There’s nothing like words to bring shock-waves into our innermost parts! In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, and all that the Task Force is telling us, the CEO of Tyson Foods gave a warning that we just might have a shortage food, due to this virus thing. That’s all we need: a shortage of food.

I’m teasing a bit because we’re all sufficiently resourceful that it would be a HUGE PANDEMIC for us to run out of food. In all fairness, he didn’t say “run out”; rather, he said there might be “a shortage.”

The Book of Job in the Old Testament shows a man (Job), who had everything one’s heart could desire. The Bible says that Job was “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3). He had a great family, great livestock, great riches that many still today say makes a great man. And then, in a flash, he lost it all! Most of us would moan and groan and look for someone to take the blame. Not Job! Instead, he said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21b).

Further on in the book of Job we find the verse cited above. Despite the critical accusations his “friends” levied at him, Job said, “I have not departed from the command of His lips.” The LORD has His own means of communicating with us. One of my friends, a retired Navy Seal Commander, told me that Muslims are coming to the church he attends, saying that they had had dreams from the LORD telling them they needed to hear God’s Word. Unusual, to say the least’ but God has His own methods of communication.

Furthermore, Job added, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Sorry, Mr. Tyson! We do love your chicken; but there’s more to life than food. What is your treasure? Is it the LORD’s Word, the Bible? How necessary is that Word to you for your daily life? It’s that Word that gives us hope in the midst of despair. Every day I receive prayer requests. Some are extremely serious and come from persons I don’t even know! If I am to fulfill the LORD’s call upon my life as a minister of His Gospel, I must take those requests seriously –and I do! They are more valuable than my necessary food. Get into His Word! Spend time with Him in serious prayer! He is in the life-changing business.

God bless you abundantly, as your grow spiritually in His loving grace.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 3:15-19, “Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a

different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of

Christ,

19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on

earthly things.”

Did you ever in your life hear as much about “testing” as you’re hearing today? What kind of test? Who is evaluating the tests? Test, test, test! I’m certainly not against testing, and I’m not criticizing tests or those who administer them. Hering it so often just kind of numbs the mind.

Paul certainly was thinking about tests when he wrote the verses above. “As many as are perfect (???????, teleios, mature, have reached completion), have this attitude (??????, phroneo, understanding)” –the same attitude as that of the apostle. And if you have a differing attitude, the LORD will reveal it to you. We all need to submit to His testing, because Jesus is the True Standard of Measurement.

All of this brings to mind a little boy who said to his mother, “Mom, I’m as tall as Goliath.” She smiled, and said,

“You’re just a small boy. Goliath was 9 feet, 6 inches tall.”

“But, Mom,” he replied, “I made myself a yardstick and I measured myself; and I’m as tall as Goliath.” It was indeed a “test,” but it was not a proper standard.

Not everyone is following the standard of the LORD. Some are actually enemies (??????, echthros, hostile) of the Cross. Watch out! They may be popular; they may pastor huge congregations; they may have many books to sell; but they don’t preach the Gospel. They are enemies, hostile to the ways and teachings of our LORD. Popularity, and what some call “success,” are not the ways of the LORD. Have you not observed how genuinely humble Jesus was? He even had only one garment to His name!

Those who honor only themselves as gods are enemies of the Cross of Christ. They will ultimately be destroyed! Their “glory” will diminish and ultimately fade away because their minds are only on earthly trinkets. They fail the true test.

Have you been tested? Perhaps you are being tested now. I sense that testing in my life. Is everything I do in accord

with the way of the LORD? Are my thought-processes in keeping with His glory? The virus of sin is everywhere! Only

Jesus is our perservation! Study His Word! Spend precious time in prayer! Let your life be lived for Him! He will help

you prepare for the final exam. And I will be praying for each of you as you take His test.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order

that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and

reaching forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Slowly, but surely, the Apostle Paul is moving toward the end of his letter to the Philippians. He has been steadily

instructing them to be joyous regarding the Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. He admits without hesitation that

he is not perfect (???????, teleioo, meaning complete. At the same time, he is adamant that the LORD has a reward

for him and he is anxious to receive it. Paul speaks of a runner, who is straining and stretching to reach the goal,

because that’s what’s required to gain the prize.

Paul may actually have two goals in mind. One, of course, is that of coming face-to-face with his LORD, Jesus Christ. The other, a lesser goal to be sure, is that of successfully carrying out the ministry to which the LORD has called him.

The word “press” (?????, dioko) means both pursue and put to flight. When he speaks of “forgetting what lies behind,” he doubtlessly means “put to flight.” He wants to pursue them in the sense of chasing the away. Those are the hindrances he has encountered to his work on Earth. At the same time, he is chasing the the ultimate goal of seeing and being with Jesus eternally in Heaven.

The “call of God in Christ Jesus” has both meanings to us, as well. It is simultaneously an “upward call.” We can both be and do better than we have. There is also a prize awaiting us in Glory –a prize that will be presented by the LORD Jesus Christ Himself! It would be an honor for any American to be summoned to the White House to meet the President. It would be an even greater honor if the President were to present him an award. That’s the idea Paul has in mind.

How do we receive what Paul has in mind? It’s contained in verse 15 – a verse reserved for our conclusion.

“Let us therefore, as many as are perfect

have this attitude; and if in anything you

have a different attitude, God will reveal

that also to you…”

Stay close to the LORD; and may He use, bless, and preserve you unto the Coming of our Great King!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men,

that I may by all means save some.

23And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”

I have no doubt whatsoever that there are readers of this Letter that would love to win someone to Christ Jesus.

At the same time, fear strikes the heart and mind, and we back off thinking as we do so that we don’t know how to start, don’t know what to say, fear that we’ll be asked a question that we cannot answer, and the list goes on and on.

The secret to being a soul-winner is first-and-foremost to be and behave as Christ did. Paul introduces us to this by

saying that he became like those he wanted to win to faith in Christ. That doesn’t mean he involved himself in their

actions and conversations that demeaned the LORD. No, it means that he didn’t act superior in any way; rather, he

“became a fellow partaker of” the Gospel, demonstrating a Christ-like spirit in all situations.

At this point in our discussion, I want to introduce something that demonstrates precisely what witnessing is. It may

surprise you. In the link below, you will hear a wealthy 5TH Avenue New Yorker, who is NOT a Christian, defend a

Christian group who went to New York to assist people infected with the Coronavirus. The man’s name is Whitney Tillson. His wife is Jewish and he has “no particular religion.” Here is the link: https://youtu.be/a1cMV1myHWA

The point I want to make is that while NONE of the workers gave him the plan of salvation or prayed with him, they WITNESSED loudly and clearly. What’s more, it made an impression! Please, let’s join in prayer for Mr. Whitney Tillson, “that by all means, we might save one.” It seems certain that this is the closest he has ever come to the Gospel.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Job 1:1-3; 18-21, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright,

fearing God, and turning away from evil.

2And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

3His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many

servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”

Then a servant came to him and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s

house, 19and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the

young people and they died; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

21And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken

away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’”

The Scriptures abound with men and women of great character, but I cannot name one that surpasses Job. He was

blameless (???? tam, a man of integrity, guiltless, ?????? yashar, conscientious; ) ?????yare, reverenced God, and turned

aside from all evil. Still, when he suffered the loss of everything material, along with his sons and daughters, he never blamed God! Most people would have said, “Why did God do this?” or “Why did God not do something to stop this?”

Not Job. He tore his robe, as ancients did to show their deepest grief, “and fell to the ground and worshiped” God!!

Job’s reasoning was: I came into this world with nothing, and I shall leave this world the same way. Everything I have, I received from the LORD; now, He has taken it back. “Blessed be the name of the LORD.” What a man! –a truly spiritual man of God! Try that on for size. It honestly doesn’t fit me. Oh, I know the truth he stated: Everything worthwhile in this life has come from God. And He has the absolute right to remove from us what He has given us.

We are forced to admit that, but we sure don’t act like we believe it, when He takes what He has given.

One year ago tomorrow, the LORD took from me the precious, loving girl He had given me for 64 years. So many had prayed so fervently for her healing. Yet, His timing was not my timing. I understand; yet, I could not say with Job, “Blessed be the Name of the LORD.” I can say it now, but grief would not allow it then. The LORD has yet to reveal to me (and He may never do so) precisely why He took back the love of my life. Yet, when I view things from her perspective, I can say, “Blessed be the Name of the LORD!”

Just ponder this thought: Everything good that you currently have is from the Hand of the LORD. You didn’t earn it; it was His gift. If, having given to you what He has, He now takes it from your possession, who can charge Him with any guilt? The entirety of the Universe is His! He designed it; He made it; He controls it. It is His! Furthermore, He made you! And in that sense, you belong to Him. But, we never really belong to Him until we yield our lives fully and completely to Him and His cause. If you have yet to yield to Him, do it now! For when He Comes – and He is Coming-it will then be too late. Pray with me…

Dear LORD, I know you love me; and I know Jesus died on the Cross to save me from my sins.

I’m sorry for my sin. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn my heart and life –everything!– over

to you. Come into my life; cleanse me completely and take charge of my life from this day forward.

I am trusting You, LORD, even as I pray. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer and have truly trusted and received Christ Jesus as your Savior and LORD, please email

me, so I can rejoice with you. Your name will not be revealed, but I will pray specifically for you. 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 God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”