The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise),
3 that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the
discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

The longer I live, the more I learn. I have jokingly said that if you live long enough, your children will become your parents. I am truly amazed at how much they know. And those of you who were blessed to know my late wife, know where our children learned it all.

There is no age limit on the word “children”; yet it is evident that they are younger than their parents and lack the knowledge their parents possess. The strong implication is that the parents are solidly committed to the LORD and are teaching their children what they have learned from Him through their parents. The word “honor” (????? timao) means to value them and by implication the instruction they give.

It is significant, too, that all of this is linked with the promise of long life on the Earth. Stop and think about this: Why would God connect obedience to parents with long life? Could it not be that His intention is that His instruction might prevail ahead of ungodly instruction from ungodly parents? In case you hadn’t noticed, the family today is under severe attack! Everywhere we turn, there are outcries that seek to devalue the principles that work toward a solid, Christian family.

Paul also tempers his instruction when he warns fathers not to provoke anger in his children. Fathers are not to grind against their children so viciously that it produces anger. Training and instruction are both positive; instruction (???????? nouthesia), however, may also be viewed negatively when it contains warnings against what will occur if obedience is not followed. At the same time, fathers are to be clear in their instructions; and the absence of mothers in the instruction implies her concurrence with her husband. Together, the parents honor the LORD, and the children will live long and grow to be good parents to their children as well.

How do you size up under these instructions? Do your instructions to your children accord with the LORD’s Word? As a child living under your parents’ guidance, do you follow their godly instruction? What is your responsibility if your parents are not Christian parents? Let me suggest that you carefully study the LORD’s Word and seek help from a godly, compassionate pastor. You are in my daily prayers, as well.

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,

Ephesians 5:15-20, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father…”

One of my granddaughters recently had surgery and was was manouvering down the steps at my house with crutches. I was ahead of her, when I tripped and almost fell, bringing a solemn voice of warning from between the crutches. Isn’t that how we often live? We’re focused critically on the lives of others, instead of how we ourselves should live.

Time is irredemable. As I write, is it ten minutes after an hour that will never come again. Those moments are gone forever! It’s as if the voice of the Apostle Paul were screaming at me, “Make the most of your time! It will never come again!” Have I measured my time well today? Were there wasted moments that I wish I could retrieve? Regardless, I am instructed “…not be foolish, but (to) understand what the will of the LORD is,” and to abide by His will and by His guidance.

If we are sensible, we will understand and obey the will of the LORD. Our hearts will sing hymns and make joyful melodies that glorify Him. At the same time, we will be giving thanks to Him for all things –even things we might humanly assess as inadequate for Him. Yet, in our hearts, we are “giving thanks for all things in the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ.” He alone is deserving of our worship and praise. Practice praising the LORD! Practice thanking Him for all things! Honest and earnest praise directed to Jesus will have a reciprocal effect on you as you offer it. May God bless your abundantly today!

Heartily in Christ,

(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,

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

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:22-26, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

Do you like fruit? I sure do! Well, I say that, but I have to amend it somewhat because there are some marked differences in fruit. I love peaches and apricots and prunes and apples and oranges. But, I’ve never liked pears! There’s a grittiness in pears that overwhelms the taste –at least, for me.

In our last Letter, mention was made of Paul’s 15 citations of “fleshliness.” Remember? Well, here in our verses today he mentions only nine “fruit of the Spirit.” Gramatically, I should say “fruits” in the plural sense; but Paul means fruit collectively. If we have love, we have joy; if we have joy, we have peace; if we have peace, we are patient; if we are patient, we are kind and good and faithful and gentle. In other words, we are exercising “self-control.”

And what happened to the flesh and those passions and selfish, evil desires? They are gone! They have been crucified with Christ! He took all of that upon Himself when He went to the cross. We are now living and walking by the Spirit. Those things of which we formerly boasted are gone forever!

The bitterness with which we challenged others because we were envious of what they possessed – it’s all gone! It no longer occupies our thoughts and intentions. The LORD now controls our lives. Our “old self” is buried, and our “new self” is under the control of the Holy Spirit. And we are at peace! –peace with ourselves and peace with everyone else.

What a glorious life we have in Jesus! If you have yet to trust Him, do it right now! If you’ve trusted Him, but find yourself falling back into “doing your own thing,” stop and assess your life. It’s not your life anymore! It’s Christ’s Life; and His Spirit indwells you! Yield it all to Him and you will know again the love and joy and peace He gives. 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

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:16-21, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Remember in an earlier letter that I mentioned that the Galatians were an “on-again-off-again” people. Setting good things in clear opposition to evil things is an excellent teaching facility for all of us. It would be useless to say, “Just do what is right,” unless there were an indication of what “right” and “wrong” clearly mean. Things that we do without thinking are often things of the flesh.

If you need more specifics on “right” and “wrong,” just read carefully verses 19 through 21. Paul lists 15 “deeds of the flesh,” just in case we hadn’t figured them out for ourselves. They are even more specific in Greek; still, no thinking person needs more understanding. English is quite sufficient.

The heavy warning he gives to all of us is that if we practice (habitually indulge in) such things, we will not inherit a home in Heaven. In other words, if we have been truly born again, we are inwardly, spiritually hindered from living an “out-and-out”
immoral life.

Notice that Paul closes this short passage with the same teaching with which he started. Deeds of the flesh have no place in a believer’s lifestyle. That does not mean that believers always do what’s right. But living continually in “deeds of the flesh” is really “living on the thin edge of the wedge.” It is exceedingly dangerous!
If you belong to Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within you to direct your life. Always listen to Him! Be prayerful, and learn to live in and by the Scriptures!

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