The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 9:1-5, “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,
4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”

Sometimes, when we are about to reveal something almost unbelievable, we start by saying, “I’m going to tell you something truthful –something you may find it hard to believe.” With such a statement, we are “conditioning the mind” of the hearer to accept what we are going to reveal. Such revelations often need bolstering in order to be believed.

It is that very situation that the Apostle Paul anticipates in the verses above. He begins by a simple statement of truth, and with the addition of the words “in Christ,” he bolsters the validity of what he intends to say. Further, he states plainly, “I am not lying” (???????? pseudomai; pseudo). Supporting truth, he cites his own conscience, as it is supported by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within him.

Whatever could be of such important as to necessitate a threefold spiritual support? Paul is encountering “great sorrow and unceasing grief. This is not grief, such as is caused by eating too much food; nor is it something irritatting his digestive system. No, this was a deep-seated grief concerning his Jewish fellowymen. They had yet to come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Do you have friends like that? –friends you love, but friends that have yet to recognize the Love of Christ, who gave Himself on the Cross for their sins? Paul grieved over their failure to accept Jesus Christ. Do we have that intensity of grief in our hearts for our friends? I’m thinking now of a man I knew was lost. He came by my house some years ago, asking if I would like to go fishing? I had already scheduled other plans. That man – a kind and close friend – may well have had a greater reason than fishing. But, now he is gone – the opportunity to share Christ is no longer there. I missed that opportunity. Paul grieved over his kinsmen and was willing to suffer the pain of Hell itself, except that it was too late.

Don’t be too late in trusting Jesus! Don’t be too late in sharing Him with others who are lost! Those are regrets that will plague 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