The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Timothy 4:1-5, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Did Paul ever laugh? Solomon, who is acknowledged to be the world,s wisest man, said there was “a time to weep and a time to laugh” (Eccl. 3:4). But there’s no indication in Scripture that Paul ever laughed. I love to laugh! Is my laughter an indication of how unlike Paul I am? Well, there are multiple things that would reveal that! Please don’t take away my laughter!

At the same time, we must all adopt some serious sobriety in our lives. What we were saved and called to do is to be serious about Jesus and the Scriptures. When Paul says we are to “reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction,” he leaves no room for laughter or silliness.

We are to reprove (convict, expose) sin. We are to rebuke (show strong disapproval) of wrong doing, and at the same time exhort (encourage) others –and we’re to do it all “with great patience and instruction.” No laughter here. Those to whom we are to minister “will not endure (put up with) sound doctrine.” They just want to laugh and hear non-convicting little stories. What they don’t want is sound, solid teaching from the Scriptures!

We’re instructed to be sober (serious) and endure hardship (suffer evil), and “do the work of an evangelist (one who brings good news).” This is what fulfills the ministry to which we are called. And you are called if you have been “born again” in Jesus Christ. Are you fulfilling the call that Christ has placed upon your life?

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