The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 8:11-15, “Now the parable is this: the seed is the Word of God.
12 ‘Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the Word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.
13 ‘Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 ‘The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 ‘But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the Word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.’”

If you’re like I am, you don’t have much success in planting things for growth. Some women I know can virtually throw seeds in the air and over their backs and have growth seemingly overnight. I’ve never figured out how they do it.

Someone has said that the definition of a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” Jesus identifies the Seed here as “the Word of God.” He then shares His parable of the Seed, identifying it as having been sowed “beside the road… on rocky soil… among thorns… and on good soil.”

The devil is actively endeavoring to remove the Seed before it has opportunity to grow. Just hearing the Word of the LORD is not in itself salvation. One must believe the Word by faith and commit himself to Jesus in order to be saved.

Temptation is first the thought and then the act of doing what is patently wrong in the eyes of the LORD. It is like a luscious fruit before the eyes. Temptation says there will be time for the Seed later on; so the Seed is ignored for now.

Others hear the Word speaking to them of salvation. They are excited for the moment, but they run with the wrong crowd. Their friends kick the Word aside, so that it’s soon forgotten. Their ungodly activities leave no room for the Word.

The Word comes to others, telling them of Jesus; but they are encumbered by worries and pleasures that the world itself offers; so nothing takes root in their minds or hearts, and they soon forget all about it.

Thankfully, the LORD’s Seed –His Word—falls on some good ground! This human heart is open and the soul receives the Word with excited gladness! His Seed is then shared with others, making His fruit to bear well in the human heart and life.

The BIG and Vital Question is: have you heard and received the LORD’s Word? Have you allowed His salvation to invade you heart, so that you have come to know Him personally?

The hope of this world does not lie in politics or wealth or fame –or anything other than the Word of God and the personal commitment of our hearts and lives to Him. He alone is our salvation! Do you know Him? If not, why not? And if you do know Him, are you sharing Him with others that they might be saved? No one can be saved without knowing Jesus! And it is our responsibility to share Him with others. Some day the end will come, and each of us
will either reside with the LORD in Heaven or spend eternity in total separation from Him in Hell.

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