The Grands Letter

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 23:22-26, “Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26 Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.”

Inasmuch as Solomon was the wisest, totally human being who ever lived, it might seem strange that he would urge his readers to “listen to your (earthly) father who begot you, and not despise your (earthly) mother when she is old.” The close proximity of the verses that follow emphasizes the importance of truth and “wisdom and instruction and understanding.” Does that resonate with you?

Solomon is saying that your parents will rejoice that you have listened to the LORD because listening to them is listening to Him. They will rejoice in you and be glad to call you their son. Live so that your parents can rejoice in you!

What causes one’s parents to rejoice on behalf of a son? Knowing that he has given his heart to the LORD causes them to rejoice! I pray for my children daily! I trust that you pray daily for your children, too!

Ultimately, the foundation of any nation is erected upon the families that constitute it. Parents who know and follow the LORD, demonstrate the life the LORD wants to reside in the children. That is the foundation of any nation. God bless you and your family as you bring honor and dedication to the LORD and to the nation where you live!

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

Dear Grands,

Psalm 33:6-12, “By the Word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the Earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”

There are great differences among men regarding how the Earth and other planets were formed. While the skeptics deliberate the origin of all stellar objects, the Word of the LORD lays claim not only to the stellar objects, but to the waters and all things shut tightly in store beneath the Earth.

How did He do it? He did it “by the breath of His mouth.” His simple declaration was spoken and it all came instantly to pass. “The counsel of the LORD stands forever.” What He plans, He empowers; what He empowers, He sustains! “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” And blessed are we who are His through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus! The old hymn says,

Count your blessings, Name them one-by-one;
Count your blessings, see what God has done.
And it will surprise you what the LORD has done.

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