The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 4:25-32, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

This is a hard passage – not because it’s difficult to read and understand, but because it is so convicting! Is there anything false in your life? Do you always speak the truth? Paul lays it squarely on the line; he never wavers. Notice that he allows anger. Anger is a natural emotion when wrong is committed against us; however, we are to dispense with it quickly, never allowing it to linger. Why? Because it will give the devil an opening to move us closer to his evil desires.

Theft is never to be tolerated in a Christian’s life. Once in my childhood, I found a billfold that contained $10.00. I didn’t steal it; someone just dropped it and I found it. There was no identification to tell us who had lost it. I was thrilled! But, my mother wouldn’t let me keep it until we had done everything possible to discover the true owner. She even advertised its discovery in the paper! Mom!!! But, what that experience taught me was far more valuable than monetary discovery! Remember that your hands were given you for work, not for theft. Moreover, anything you earn beyond what you need is to be shared with others.

Watch your mouth! Remember that anger? It mysteriously promotes words that are not in keeping with the Christian life. Just utilize words that build up and encourage other believers –honorable, Christian words appropriate to the occasion. Those inappropriate, sometimes nasty, words hurt the Holy Spirit, who lives within you. He is the Father’s “down-payment” against all the glorious provisions God has for you in eternity. So, “be kind to one another”; let your heart be tender. Forgive those who have offended you. Remember that your sin against the LORD is vastly greater than anything anyone has done against you!
And He has forgiven you. Humm… that gives us something to think about, doesn’t it? 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