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.”

The more we read Paul’s writings, the better we understand his positive/negative method of instruction. He states what believers are not to do as well as what we are to do. I counted seven positives and six negatives in the verses above. See if that’s what you get when you count them.

The word “neighbor” comes from an ancient word meaning “neigh the border.” It’s someone who lives close to you, someone who lives in the same community. We’re to always be truthful with them. In the normal course of life, we may get angry, even with our neighbor, but we’re never to stay angry. That’s an opening for the devil to come between us by driving wedges of separation.

Even if we lack sufficient food, we are never to steal food from our neighbor or anyone else. If we work as we should, we will have plenty and some to spare and to share with others. One may joke and have fun with his neighbors, but we’re never to use unwholesome words. Rather, we are to use words that edify and build up our friends in the LORD. Using gross language is what grieves the Holy Spirit, and He is our “Seal,” our spiritual security in Christ Jesus.

Our demeanor is to always be loving, kind-hearted and forgiving of others. We must remember that God has forgiven us, if we’ve truly confessed our sins and trusted Him to be our LORD and Savior. Yes, there are things we must NOT DO and things we MUST DO. It’s all in the Bible. I hope you’re reading it every day –maybe with that first cup of coffee. It is marvellous instruction! It will start your day off right, and it will change your life for the better, and your neighbors, too!

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