The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 10:27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
30 “I and the Father are one.”

It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple. People had gathered about Him and were asking Him who He was. Just say it, they said to Him, Say it clearly. He had indeed told them plainly that He was the Christ. They just would not believe!

It’s much like that today. He speaks through His Word, the Holy Scriptures; yet, many will not listen. And many of those who do listen will not believe. He speaks through His ministers –pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and other ordinary Christian people—yet they will not believe.

Yet, to those who do believe, He gives eternal life –life that has knows no death; life that has true meaning; life of love and concern for others, even ignoring its own well-being as it cares for others. The Father has given us His Son. The Son gave His life on the Cross that we all might be saved. But we have to believe upon the Son in order to be saved. Have you believed upon 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,

Judges 13:6-7, “Then the woman came and told her husband (Manoah), saying, ‘A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.
7 “But he said to me, “Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy (Samson) shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.”’”

Luke 1:11-16, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to (Zacharias), standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
13 But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 ‘You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 ‘And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.’”

By the time you have read both of the Scripture passages above, you will be aware of the similarities of both families and what the LORD required of the parents and their children.

Both set of parents were thoroughly dedicated to the LORD. Samson was born to serve the LORD, as was John (the Baptist). Everything recorded in Scripture regarding John, shows he was acceptable to the LORD. The LORD used Samson powerfully, too, but often he gave way to the sensual pleasures of the world.

Parents who are committed by faith to the LORD Jesus Christ do their best to rear their children to serve Him and influence other to accept Him and His way of life. Christian parents are not perfect; and often their children stray from parental instruction. In such cases, it is incumbent upon the parents to bathe them in prayer daily, trusting the LORD to bring them back that they might walk in His pathway. Consistent prayer is the key for both the lost and for the straying. Just never give up.

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,

Luke 1:1-4, “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.”

It was Sir William Ramsay, Professor of Humanities at Aberdeen in Scotland, who wrote: “I take the view that Luke’s history is unsurpassed in regard to its trustworthiness… You may press the words of Luke in a degree beyond any other historian’s and they stand the keenest scrutiny and the hardest treatment.”

Luke, a Greek physician, was in all likelihood trained to be of service to Theophilus (“friend of God”), a Roman of possibly considerable wealth and position. Yet, Luke, a Christian, gave time to research historical matters that would be of inestimable use to those who would follow after him.

Important to us is Luke’s stated purpose in writing: “…that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.” That purpose has many values in the current time in which we live. So much misinformation abounds! Multiple apologies abound because there was a lack of meaningful dissemination of truth. Luke calls for “exact truth” regarding the Christian Gospel, precisely what we urgently need in our world today. Jesus said, “You will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Are you free? You are if you know the Truth, have received the LORD as your Savior, and treasure Him in your heart.

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 55:12-16, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him.
13 But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend;
14 We who had sweet fellowship together walked in the house of God in the throng.
15 Let death come deceitfully upon them; let them go down alive to Sheol, for evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.
16 As for me, I shall call upon God, and the LORD will save me.

Have you ever had a friend who turned against you? At first, you were so stunned that you simply would not believe it. Yet, the evidence was undeniably there. He had betrayed you! What he had done, what he had said, revealed clearly that he was not your friend. What should you do? What can you do?

It is believed that this Psalm depicts the treachery of Ahithophel, when he schemed against David (2 Sam. 15:31). Ahithophel had been David’s friend and confidential counselor. They shared everything. They “opened their minds and plans” to each other (Barnes). They worshipped God together. They were believable friends. Then David learned of the breech in their fellowship.

David could do nothing to reproach his enemy. Therefore, he commits him into the Hands of the LORD. And it is best that we follow this procedure when we are betrayed by those whom we have called “friends.” Seeking to denounce them as traitors only besmirches our own character and discourages those who previously believed us to be above such tactics. After all, those who betray true Christian friends are always best dealt with by the LORD. Maintain your fellowship with Him. He will handle those who rage against 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 4:4-12, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are.”

One of the most difficult tasks known to all mankind is that of discipline. It’s difficult because it’s so unnatural. At the same time, it is invaluable to every task that is known. Olympian athletes have to be disciplined! Soldiers have to be disciplined! Students have to be disciplined. There is no known task that does not demand discipline.

When Paul speaks of “the fullness of the time,” he speaks with respect to the self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That sacrifice on the Cross occurred under God’s pre-determined timing. It meshed with the redemption that God had planned for mankind.

The moment one turns willfully away from sin and accepts Jesus’ sacrifice as for one’s self, God removes the sin and implants the Holy Spirit in the life of the redeemed person, who then becomes a son of God. But if and when he then turns back into sin, he dishonors God. He does not lose his salvation, but he may feel like it, until he repents and asks forgiveness.

The church today is overrun with sinful people. Even some pastors have made headlines for sins they have admitted committing. That’s why it’s necessary for us all to stay in the Word of God and pray often. We all need the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit. He works best within us when we pray and stay in the Word. God bless you is my prayer. Pray too for me if you will.

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