The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 16:20-24, 32, “He who gives attention to the Word will find good,
And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of fools is folly.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.”

Most of us have been in situations we would have rather not have been. Some of them were dangerous; all of them were “sticky.” In such cases, wisdom is the key word to extraction. Speaking kindly increases your chance of being successful in overcoming the adverse situation.

It’s difficult to know what to say in one of those undesirable situations. Yet, if you’re wise, your heart will inform your mind what is expedient to express. Your pleasantness will ultimately succeed in persuading your adversary. Kind and thoughtful words are not expected; yet, when they are expressed, they extract the steam from your adversary’s intention. At the same time, the LORD will erase and replace your defensive words with kind and thoughtful words that dismantle the thinking of your opponent.

Have you never tried this? Do you really doubt that such can occur? Try it in good faith. Trust in the LORD. He will never let you down.

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,

Genesis 43:29-32, “As (Joseph) lifted his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, he said, ‘Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?’ And he said, ‘May God be gracious to you, my son.’
30 Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there.
31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, ‘Serve the meal.’
32 So they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians.”

Have you ever been faced with eating something you vehemently disliked? Have you ever been faced with eating with someone you vehemently disliked? Probably you could recall several instances.

Now, together in Joseph’s house in Egypt, the twelve brothers came together for a meal. It was Joseph’s first glimpse in many months of his youngest brother, Benjamin. Emotionally moved by the situation, Joseph rushed from the room to hide his tears. When he composed himself and returned to his brothers, Joseph was served separately from his brothers and from the Egyptians of Joseph’s household.

We are told in these verses that the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews. In all probability, there are some people with whom (for various reasons) we would elect not to share a meal. Perhaps, the most acceptable reason for such a refusal would be our unwillingness to be thought acceptable with some of their ways.

It is necessary, however, that we show Christian love to those who do not follow Christ. We just must not neglect to show love, even to the unlovely. That was Jesus’ way. He suffered ridicule for eating with sinners, while those who ridiculed Him were as guilty of sin as were those they accused. It was Solomon who said, “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips” (Prov. 16:23). May God richly 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,

Isaiah 45:23, “”I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”

Philippians 2:8-11, “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Our world is currently in trouble! A host of people throughout the world are wondering about the difficulties they now face. Will our differences with them ultimately lead to war? If so, which countries will align together? Which will line up against the others? Moreover, which country will emerge successful? What leaders can we trust?

While these questions have considerable relevance to the era in which we live, we need have no doubt as to who will direct the ultimate victory. Isaiah records the LORD’s words as the guarantee of His victory. And the Apostle Paul assures us in his Letter to the Philippians that “every knee will bow” to the LORD and Creator of all the Earth!

Furthermore, “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” That does not mean that every soul will be saved from eternity in Hell, but that even they, who will not recognize the LORD Jesus in this life, will be forced to acknowledge Him in their eternal existance. Those who ignore Him now will nevertheless be forced to acknowledge Him throughout eternity.

Whatever the outcome of raging nations here on Earth, Jesus Christ will be successful, reaching throughout eternity. We can bow willingly before Him now and live with Him eternally in Heaven; or we can resist bowing before Him now and be forced to bow before Him from Hell. May His love encourage all mankind to bow before Him daily for the victory is His guarnteed!

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,

John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 “I and the Father are one.”

It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple. People had gathered about Him and were asking Him who He was. Just say it, they said to Him, Say it clearly. He had indeed told them plainly that He was the Christ. They just would not believe!

It’s much like that today. He speaks through His Word, the Holy Scriptures; yet, many will not listen. And many of those who do listen will not believe. He speaks through His ministers –pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and other ordinary Christian people—yet they will not believe.

Yet, to those who do believe, He gives eternal life –life that has knows no death; life that has true meaning; life of love and concern for others, even ignoring its own well-being as it cares for others. The Father has given us His Son. The Son gave His life on the Cross that we all might be saved. But we have to believe upon the Son in order to be saved. Have you believed upon Him?

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,

Judges 13:6-7, “Then the woman came and told her husband (Manoah), saying, ‘A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
7 “But he said to me, “Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy (Samson) shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.”’”

Luke 1:11-16, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to (Zacharias), standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
13 But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 ‘You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 ‘And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.’”

By the time you have read both of the Scripture passages above, you will be aware of the similarities of both families and what the LORD required of the parents and their children.

Both set of parents were thoroughly dedicated to the LORD. Samson was born to serve the LORD, as was John (the Baptist). Everything recorded in Scripture regarding John, shows he was acceptable to the LORD. The LORD used Samson powerfully, too, but often he gave way to the sensual pleasures of the world.

Parents who are committed by faith to the LORD Jesus Christ do their best to rear their children to serve Him and influence other to accept Him and His way of life. Christian parents are not perfect; and often their children stray from parental instruction. In such cases, it is incumbent upon the parents to bathe them in prayer daily, trusting the LORD to bring them back that they might walk in His pathway. Consistent prayer is the key for both the lost and for the straying. Just never give up.

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