The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Deuteronomy 4:23-27, “So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a graven image in the form of anything against which the LORD your God has commanded you.
24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
25 “When you become the father of children and children’s children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger,
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.
27 “The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD drives you.”

Regardless of the commentary on the reason foreign countries encounter unrest, war and devastation, the LORD is ever and always in control. Yesterday’s Letter spoke of the LORD’s jealousy, and how it is justified because “when we accept Christ Jesus as our personal Savior, we belong to Him totally! Thus, He has the Divine Right of jealousy over our lives.”

Years later the warning from Exodus comes again in Deuteronomy. This time God is pictured as a “consuming fire!” Nothing escapes the flames of a consuming fire! His jealousy concerns His children. In the Old Testament Israel was His children. In the New Testament, those who accept Jesus Christ become His spiritual children. He loves His children, but angers furiously when they disobey Him and fall again into sin.

Spiritual behavior in the light of our “new birth affiliation” reflects upon Him, just as our personal behavior reflects upon our human parents. Are they not angry when our behavior causes them embarrassment? Still, our adverse behavior is far more injurious to our Heavenly Father.

Our LORD is a LORD of love. He loves us enormously! That love drives Him to a hard attitude against bad behavior. His threats are not idle; nor are they soft. He offers the very best to those who honor Him. He lashes out furiously against those who do not! His reaction corresponds to our behavior, and it is all with the view that we learn obedience.

Are you honoring Him with your life? Has sin been thoroughly put away? He loved you enough to give His Son, Jesus, to save you from your sin. Show your love by yielding yourself completely to 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