The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 16:25-27, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

Letters of ancient times commenced with the signature of the sender. The salutation of Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians utilized seven verses of 127 English words. His conclusion used but three verses, consisting of a mere 80 English words. Yet, throughout the entirety of the letter, the LORD Jesus Christ is exalted and glorified. This is how our lives ought to be: from the cradle to the grave, we ought to exalt and magnify our LORD Jesus Christ.

It is the LORD alone, who can strengthen and confirm our lives through the Gospel. That’s why it is imperative that we subject our minds to the clear teaching of a godly minister of the Gospel. Further, the responsibility is heavy upon the minister to seek out the truths of the Scripture and feed those truths to those who live under his ministry.

Paul avows that the Scriptures, written by the prophets of old, have now been opened to the understanding of all mankind. The overriding purpose of the Scriptures is to lead all who hear them to become obedient to the faith in Jesus Christ. That’s exactly what Christian missionaries are doing today. They have obediently planted their lives among natives, who have not heard of Jesus. They have to learn the language of the people among whom they live, all the while modeling the spiritual life of Christ.

If there is a joy that rivals that of coming to faith in Christ, it is the joy of seeing those with whom we’ve led to faith share the Gospel with others. The LORD does not call every believer to be a missionary to a foreign country, but He does call every believer to share his faith with others around him.

I remember so clearly my thoughts when I stood in a marketplace in India: “If only I could speak their language!” Yet, I speak the language of my own people. Am I sharing Christ with them as I ought? Are we, who know Him, being obedient to His call?

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