The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 12:1-8, “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2 They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things;
4 Who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’
5 “’Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise,’ says the LORD; ‘I will set him in the safety for which he longs.’
6 The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
7 You, O LORD, will keep them; You will preserve him from this generation forever.
8 The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”

With wicked and selfish people abounding in our nation and throughout the world, do you ever find yourself doubting whether there are any good, moral, spiritually-minded Christian people left on this Earth? If you do, you’re closely aligned with the thinking of David, as he cries out for help from the LORD.

David pleads with the LORD to put an end to the self-aggrandizing words of those who haughtily claim, “Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?” The LORD hears and determines to assist the needy. ‘I will set him in the safety for which he longs,’ says the LORD, whose words “are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace.”

We must now embrace and exhibit the sure confidence of David, when he declares, that the LORD…“will preserve (us) from this vile generation forever.” It is difficult to even think well of those who “strut about on every side when putrefaction is exalted among the sons of men.” Yet, our focus must be and remain fixed on the One whose love and power is devoted to the preservation of those who call and know Him as “Savior.”

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 11:1-7, “In the LORD I take refuge; How can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain;
2 For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?’
4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.”

With every opposition, there is a time to run, and there is a time to stand. David has enemies, but the LORD is his refuge. Apparently, the LORD had instructed David to flee as birds flee when under attack. Yet, David replies with a question: How can I run away to safety when enemies are everywhere on the attack?

David assumes that his enemies will succeed unless he is ready and willing to fight. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” But the LORD is aware that He alone is capable of routing the enemies of His people. David, too, is aware of the supreme capabilities of the LORD, yet has he forgotten?

Sometimes the LORD wants us out-of-the-way so He can gain the victory for us. At other times, He wishes us to be in the battle with Him. Isn’t that just like a good father, who wants his children to observe what he is doing that they might learn to do it themselves? Yet, at other times, he wants them safely removed from any disaster that might befall them.

How is any child of God to know what his Father wants? He “beholds His face.” Keep your eyes focused on the Face of the LORD and keep your ears tuned to His frequency. He will tell you what to do when it’s your time to get into the game.

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 9:17-20, “The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God.
18 For the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged before You.
20 Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are but men.”

If you think the Scriptures that teach and exalt the LORD Jesus Christ speak too often about wickedness and sin, you haven’t read any newspapers recently. The world is beclouded with sin! From intentional killings of people on local scenes to national and international corruption, people everywhere are seeking justice! It’s as if Hell has returned it’s wicked to harass and pester the people of God.

In this judicial psalm, the wicked of ungodly nations will be cast into Sheol (the eternal abode of the dead). The righteous, who are needy and suffer affliction, the LORD will not forget. If you are among the suffering, the LORD promises that you will be remembered and strengthened.

Unrighteous men claw their way into positions of human authority. They produce misery among the very people they are supposed to serve. The cry of the psalmist is the cry of many people today: “Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged before You. Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are but men.”

Yet to the faithful people, He wills that they relax. The LORD knows the needs of His people, and He promises to care for them. Our responsibility is to be yielded to Him and to do His will. If we insist on being fearful, let it be the fear of failure to reach those for whom Christ died. For it is through our faithfulness that they can come to know Christ and that He is glorified.

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 6:1-9, “O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; Heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.
3 And my soul is greatly dismayed; But You, O LORD– how long?
4 Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your lovingkindness.
5 For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol who will give You thanks?
6 I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7 My eye has wasted away with grief; It has become old because of all my adversaries.
8 Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my supplication, The LORD receives my prayer.”

Most of the Psalms fits neatly into specific categories. Psalm 1, for example, is what we call a didactic or teaching psalm. Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm because it speaks of the Messiah. Psalms 3 and 4 are supplicational in that they are prayers for God’s specific favors. Psalm 6 is penitential in that the psalmist is beseeching the LORD for forgiveness of sin.

In the first four verses, the psalmist cries out for mercy! His sin is different from that of Psalm 51, in that here he does not reveal what the sin is. I’m sure you’ve experienced the need to cry out for God’s mercy, but were too ashamed to mention your sin. I have had that experience. Sometimes in open public prayer, we even “cover” ourselves through generalized expressions of regret, leaving those who listen without the slightest notion of what sin was intended.

David knows there is no way he can pray after death. He is so ashamed he could literally die! Yet, faith in God is his only way out. Apparently, David’s friends were attempting to comfort him, for he says, “Depart from me, all you who do iniquity…” He obviously views his friends to be as guilty as he; thus, how can their prayers help?

All of this concludes with the LORD hearing and answering David’s supplication. The LORD hears the sincerity of all supplicants and responds accordingly. Rest assured that the LORD hears our prayers! Rest assured that we stand in need of praying! We need to pray for each other and even for those who never pray for us. They may not know it, but God does hear and answer prayer! He just doesn’t answer prayer that is not shared with Him.

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 1:1-6, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

So much is in print today with regard to the ways of evil men and women. The LORD delightfully blesses those who do not walk in the paths of sinners! He rejoices in those who resist hanging out with those who scoff at the LORD and His teachings.

He delights in those who follow His Word and think about Him throughout the day. They are stalwart and unmovable, as they reside in the spiritual refresh-ment the LORD provides. Furthermore, they prosper in every way that glorifies the LORD. It’s totally different with the wicked.

Today we thresh wheat differently than they did in Old Testament times. Mixed as it was with the chaff, when all was tossed into the air, only the heavier wheat kernels fell to the ground for collection. The chaff was carried away by the wind. Those who are wicked and engage in evil and openly denounce Almighty God, will be swept away by divine winds, carried into judgment.

The LORD knows those who are truly His. Their sinfulness has been swept away through the blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. The Father knows the ways of both the righteous and the wicked. He will preserve the righteous; the wicked will perish in the fires of Hell. Check up! Make certain you’re numbered with the righteous!

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