The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 4:2-6. “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
4 in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”

Great and wise men often speak with down-to-Earth simplicity. Paul does that here, as he comes to the close of his letter to the Colossian Christians. “Devote yourselves to prayer,” he says. Do so constantly! Prayer doesn’t always have to be on your knees. You can pray while driving a car. You can pray in your heart for that workman who has come to labor at your house. The LORD can “open a door” for you to speak the Word to anyone.

But, how will I do it? What if I get scrambled in my words? Don’t worry! Trust the LORD to “open a door
for His Word!” Trust Him to enable you to “make it clear.” I remember well the day I crossed the street to speak to a couple of guys seated in a truck. As I spoke, they responded with a question. I laughed as I said, “Oh, the answer to that is right here in the Bible.” Yet, as I said it, I had no idea where in the Bible!
But, I opened it faithfully, and the Scripture I needed was right there where I had turned! I was amazed!
There was that “door for the Word,” opened by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God.

Nevertheless, we’re not to be flippant in witnessing. We’re to be wise and humble. We’re to speak kindly and graciously as we witness. Our words are to be “seasoned with salt.” Salt on words makes them acceptable to our hearers, just as salt on vegetables makes them tasty. Salt is also a preservative, giving our words memory in the minds of our hearers. Whatever their immediate response, our “salty words” of witness will not be forgotten. It’s all of Him; He just allows us the privilege of being involved. When were you last involved in witnessing? Or are you one who received a witness that you simply cannot forget?

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,

Colossians 3:1-4, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

Without question, Greek is the most specific of all languages. Whatever is written or spoken in Greek is virtually impossible to misunderstand. The word “if” in verse one above introduces a first class conditional sentence making it read, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, and you have…”; then keep on seeking the things above, i.e., Heaven. Not to be trite, but that virtually eliminates all earthly news reports, doesn’t it?

Paul’s assumption here is that the Colossians to whom he is writing, have indeed accepted Christ as their LORD and Savior. That in itself further assumes that their minds are focused on Heaven and the afterlife. Is that true of you? Is Heaven really your focus? Do we think of Christ and Heaven more often and more seriously than we think of things here on Earth? The word “think” (????????) is a present active imperative form, meaning that our focus must now be on what is to come, not on what is currently occurring here on Earth.

Those who have physically died have no further concern related to Earth or her people. So it is that when we trusted Christ as our Savior, our focus shifted to Him. He is now our life! Thus, we have a totally new perspective on everything! It does not mean that we are oblivious to what is going on around us. It simply means that our lifestyle is no longer to be determined by what has or will occur on Earth.

Jesus Christ is coming to Earth again! When He comes, He will reveal Himself to all mankind. Those who trusted Him prior to their physical deaths will also appear with Him at His Coming. The self-made religions of mankind are not sufficient. They focus on self; true Christianity focuses on the Savior.

What is in your focus? It is Jesus Christ? He alone promises eternal life. If you have not trusted Him, I urge you: please trust Him today! If He is already your Savior and focus, start sharing Him with others. He is the News that’s too good to keep.

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,

Colossians 2:6-10, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
9 For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority…”

Have you noticed in the news recently how many individuals (some, celebrities) claim they have received Christ as their Savior? Some claim miraculous healing; some say that Christ has rescued them from a life of sin and shame. I’m not discounting these experiences because I know Christ came to “seek and to save” those who are lost.

At the same time, Jesus clearly said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21 NAS). Paul the Apostle re-emphasized those words of truth in our verses above. Someone once said, “It’s not how loud you shout, or how high you jump; it’s how you run when you hit the ground.” Just don’t let anyone trick you into following them instead of following Christ. Remember, “All that glitters is not gold.”

Smooth words, accompanied by a warm smile, is often misleading. We want to think the best of those who claim to know Christ –and many of them do! Still, we must remember that it is Christ Jesus whom we are to follow, not even those who have genuinely trusted Him as their LORD and Savior.

It is Christ alone who possesses the “fullness of Deity.” It is Christ alone who makes our lives complete.
Someone once said, “Jesus is everything! And everything is in Jesus!” That is true. Jesus’ life is revealed to us through the Scriptures. Develop a daily reading of the Bible. Read slowly, like you eat when you love what you’re eating so much that you want to savor it’s taste as long as possible. Pray as you read. Trust the LORD to reveal the meaning of His Word. Remember, He is “the head over all rule and authority.” And the Bible is His Word. May He bless us all as we read and savor His Word.

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,

Colossians 1:24-29, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints,
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.
29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”

Where do you attend church? Do you consider yourself a member of that church? Are you a member of any other organizations? What do those organizations require of you as a member? Do you do for your church as much as you do for those secular organizations? The Apostle Paul suffered for the church. Do you suffer for your church? Our suffering ought always to be for the cause of Christ and His Church.

Note that Paul viewed the Church as the Body of Christ, and himself as a minister of the Word of God.
You and I may not be called as the pastor of the church we attend, but we are certainly called to be active witnesses of Jesus Christ. We are to proclaim Him and admonish, exhort, and instruct everyone through the wisdom He has allotted to us. Do you pray for the church of which you are a part? Do you pray for your pastor? The one who prays is clearly assisting the one who shares the message.

Notice too that Christ is our proclamation. We are to pray and support our church, but our witness is always to focus on Christ Jesus. “Where do you attend church?” is to be supplanted by “Do you know the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior?” Gospel tracts that carry the message of Christ have their place; but,
people need to see and understand our love for Him and for them. Yes, it is often laborous; it sometimes even calls for suffering. But, we are not alone. We have Christ Jesus’ power within us –power that works
to the praise of His glory!

Start praying for the lost! Pray earnestly for the Church! Pray fervently for your pastor! Pray daily for your nation! Christ alone is victorious! He is the way, the truth, and the light. What’s more, He hears and answers prayer.

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,

Philippians 4:10-14, 17, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction….
17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

Do we have what we need? Do our circumstances demand that we have more? Are we sure? What can be done to supply what is lacking? All of these questions and more swarm through the minds of those who are venturing out overseas in the LORD’s service. I know, because they overflowed in my mind when my family prepared for just such a venture.

The Apostle Paul had some of those same questions swarming through his mind. He possessed sufficient means at the time of his writing. He had learned to be content with whatever he had. Why are we so disturbed about not having more? We need to learn what Paul had learned: “…how to get along with humble means…”? The LORD, who calls us to leave home and share His Message of Salvation with those in distant lands, promises to strengthens us to meet situations He knows we will encounter. He does the same for those whom He has called to witness here in our respective homelands.

When my family and I were preparing for an extended stay overseas, I wrote letters to churches, asking for financial help. I need not have done so; for only one faithful Oklahoma church responded helpfully. In all honesty, I was seeking for money, and I used the last verse above in my correspondence. Still, the value and strength of that verse alone would have prevailed –and did!— for those who would have chosen to provide financial help. Every soul that was saved, every life that was “resurrected” accrued to the account of that church that prayed and provided for us.

Learn to give to Christian missionaries and organizations that are focused on the lost! Pray daily for the LORD’s leadership in their lives and their organizations. For as you do so, they become an extension of you; and you will receive spiritual credit for all that is accomplished through them for the glory of the LORD! Nor will you ever lack as you give faithfully to others. God will bless you abundantly!

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