The Grands Letter

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