The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:15-17, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

It was the prophet Isaiah who said, “…His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). It is that same Prince of Peace whom Paul encourages us to allow authority over all things within us. Furthermore, it is Paul who admonishes us to view Christ as “the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). But, how is all of this to be accomplished?

Christ becomes our “hope of glory” when we repent of sin and allow His Word to dwell — to make its home — within us. The Spirit’s indwelling produces “wise teaching” for true and ready believers, as well as “wise exhortation and admonition” for all who own Him as their LORD. Our “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” should originate from our love of the LORD Jesus Christ; and they all should be expressed to the glory of Almighty God!

Expressions of our love arise from the Holy Spirit within us, and they honor and glorify the LORD Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. The result is that all that we do and/or say in the LORD Jesus’ Name promotes thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, the LORD God Almighty. May He encourage and enable us to focus our thoughts and intents upon Him today, as taught in the Holy 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

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 4:12-14, “For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”

With the multiple storms that surround us personally, nationally and worldwide, how are we to remain calm? Perhaps it would do us well to remember that historically we are not alone. The LORD has not left us to face these times alone. He has provided all we need, if only we would cast ourselves fully upon Him.

What are the weapons He has provided us? How do they work to erase the evils that encompass us? Six clear and distinct words from the passage above are offered to all who will believe and behave to our LORD’s glory.

The Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, contain assurances for us. The Word (????? logos, speech, message) was present to protect those Old Testament saints, and it remains to instruct and encourage us yet today. This Word is living (??? zao, alive}, and remains so to comfort and strengthen our faith. At the same time, that Word is active (??????? energes, at work, effective). He has not left us alone to struggle in the sea of despondency. His Word is as effective today as it was in Old Testament times.

The Word of God is extremely sharp (????? tomos, cuts, gets to the right place) and pierces (?????????? diikneomai, penetrates) where it is most effective in defending us against those woes that work to discourage and displace us from His firm and holy grip.

Finally, the Word assures us that He will one day judge (???????? kritikos, critical assessment) those who resist Him and His love. For those who are not committed to Him are as those who openly work against Him. They will ultimately be judged and cast into an abyss that is eternally separated from the LORD! Don’t be left out! Feast on His Word today! Trust your life to His care today! “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb. 3:7-8a).

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 6:9-10, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the
household of the faith.”

Why not just quit right where we are? There’s no value in continuing. Everything is going haywire! Let’s just say “we lost,” and leave it at that! Okay? Some things do come good, if even at the very last minute. Take sports. I’ve watched some teams try harder when everything looked like they’ed already lost. And guess what? That “loosing team” won!

The Apostle Paul often used athletic terms in his letters. Never in any of his letters does he mention losing! Here in the verses above he urges the Galatians onward! “We will reap,” he says, yet he conditions it upon “not growing weary.” His encourgement is linked with “doing good.” If what we are doing is not good, it is totally worthless. What’s more, it brings shame and disgrace on the Name of our LORD Jesus Christ.

As I’ve previously endeavored to say in these Letters, everything we do ought always to be to the glory of the LORD Jesus Christ. He alone is due the glory! Sometimes we credit the glory to others and ourselves. Sometimes we even act as if the credit is our’s alone. It is not! Whatever good might be found in us is of the LORD alone. Therefore, we ought to do good to all people, including those whom we know to be believers in the LORD Jesus Christ. I’ve not given up! Have 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 6:1-9, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
5 For each one will bear his own load.
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

We all live among people who do wrong. They live in our towns; they may even live on our
street. How are we to respond? Are we to whisper behind our neighbor’s back, sowing
discord among our neighbors? No, we are to help bear their burden to the limit of our ability.
We might someday find ourselves in the same situation.

By definition, a burden is something that is thrust upon us. It is a ????? baros, a weight of any
source. It may not be something we excitingly desire to do, but we are to help. Someday, we may find ourselves in the same need. Besides, we have been taught the Word of God in order that we may share it with others. When we do, we are honoring our Father.

Let’s suppose a neighbor, due to adversity in his family, comes up short on a payment he is
required to meet. He would view that as a burden. At the same time, while under no obligation
we decide to help him. It would be viewed as a cross to us in that we willing elected to come to his need. Paul says that by this act we are fulfilling the law of Christ.

At the same time, if we view ourselves proudly in this act, it is truly self-deception. We will surely
in time discover that we owe all the glory to God. For it is He who has enabled us to perform
good on our neighbor’s behalf. Anytime we do good for another, it comes from the Spirit of God, Who resides within us. Therefore, we owe all the glory and praise to Him alone!

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,

Hebrews 11:1-3, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

When you are blessed to have even a small access of funds, you want the assurance that they will be safely secured. Assurance derives from the Greek word ????????? hupostasis that “signifies the joyous, unwavering confidence of an intelligent faith, the security of a fearless trust.” It is one’s faith in complete freedom from the power of evil due to the forgiveness of sin through the sacrifice and resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ.

Our stability in such confidence derives in part from those who have gone before us. Their lives achieved the approval of God when they trusted Him, giving us confidence that a like anticapation (??????? elpomai) would produce the same result for us.

Our faith today corelates with our understanding of God’s creative acts. He formed all of what we see and all of what we don’t see, and we believe He did so. That being true, what needs do we have that lie outside His divine jurisdiction? He is capable of providing all things that exist for our spiritual benefit. What does not comport with His will is never to our benefit.

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