The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 45:16-20, 21b, “They will be put to shame and even humiliated, all of them; The manufacturers of idols will go away together in humiliation.
17 Israel has been saved by the LORD With an everlasting salvation; You will not be put to shame or humiliated To all eternity.
18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the LORD, and there is none else.
19 “I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a waste place’; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright.
20 “Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; They have no knowledge, who carry about their wooden idol and pray to a god who cannot save.”
21b “And And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me.
22 “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.”

A video clip of a Jewish billionaire concluded with the interviewer’s question: “Do you believe in God?” The man’s blunt replied was, “No!” Yet, it was not an intelligent reply because God does exist! Man’s denial cannot eradicate God’s existence.

There is even more to God than is revealed in Scripture. The sinful mind of mankind is incapable of grasping even all that Scripture reveals. We are told that the LORD created the heavens and the earth. He spoke and things came into being. He tells us that He did not create (the earth) as “a waste place.” He formed it to be inhabited by the human creatures He created to live here.

It was the LORD’s desire from the start that man would love and glorify Him. But man fell into sin and repudiated God and His creation. Still, the LORD loved those whom He had created and provided for them a way of escape. “Turn to Me,” He said, “and be saved, all the ends of the earth.” It is a personal solicitation, from Almighty God that encompasses all mankind.

Jesus Christ died for our sins. He forgives our sin when we repent and accept Him as LORD and Savior of our lives. Have you accepted Him? If not, why not? And if you have accepted Him, are you bearing witness of Him through your life? Remember that He is God, “and there is no other.”

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,

Ephesians 6:1-3, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),
3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.”

Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” Do you see our
LORD’s promise—the one of which Paul spoke?

The spiritual writers of the New Testament were also readers of the Old Testament. Is that surprising? It shouldn’t be. They were Jews, who had been brought up in the Israelite tradition. What Paul says in the verses of Ephesians, he reiterates in his second letter to Timothy,

“…and that from childhood you have known the sacred
writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads
to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).

What is noteworthy in addition to the spiritual teaching in these verses, is that Paul is addressing the chrildren directly. He admonishes them to behave – “obey your parents… honor your father and mother…” The major reason many children do not obey their parents today is that they don’t see their parents obeying those who are in authority over them. Dad is always angry at the police; and mother denounces the local school board for allowing Bible reading in the school. “More is caught than taught.” Think about it.

Why are there so many abortions today? Babies that never asked to be born, also never asked to be severely and ruthlessly sliced from their mothers’ wombs! And those who were blessed with normal births learned to complain and resist authority just like their parents.

We can survive this demonic holocaust, but it begins with Dad and Mom, reading and obeying the Word of our Eternal Father. Are you immersed in His Word? It is His direction for you and for those who come after you –your children and grandchildren.
Please give that some very serious thought. There’s a lot at stake.

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,

1 Peter 3:7-12, “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10 For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

If any of you read yesterday’s Letter and felt that Simon Peter was laying it on women rather heavily, today he instructs the men, the husbands. Men are to deal tenderly with their wives. Christian women are “heirs of the grace of life” just like their husbands. That is to say that the LORD looks with favor upon women just as He does with their husbands. Warning to men: Failure to deal warmly and kindly with your wife hinders your prayers from being answered.

Peter summarizes it all when he says, “…be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit.” That’s the positive side. Here’s the negative: Don’t return “evil for evil or insult for insult…” Peter understood what it meant for a man and his wife to argue. He was a married man (Mk1:30), and understood the difficulties resident within the household.

Yet, I think he had both husband and wife in mind when in verse 9-12 he said, “…not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” It’s virtually impossible to keep arguing if the other person quits! Getting the last word isn’t always winning. Certainly, it’s not from God’s point of view! The LORD always gets the final word!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. Please don’t argue. One day your mate will be gone, and you’ll regret that you argued
at all.

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,

1 Peter 3:1-6, “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
3 Your adornment must not be merely external– braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

With all of the role misguidance that abounds within the human race these days, it seems appropriate that we carefully examine what the Word of God says regarding the LORD’s will in such matters. He has a role for the women and a role for the men. When the roles become fuzzy, the children become confused about their own behavior. That seems largely to be where we are in today’s world.

In any situation involving more than one person, one of the two has to be the authority. For many, the very word authority translates as “boss” or “tyrant.” Yet, clearly that is not to be the translation here. Rather, when there is a difference of opinion, the wife is to be submissive. That is not to say that the husband is always right; nor is it to say that the wife has absolutely no right to differ with her husband. She, too, is made in the image of God.

The husband is the one the LORD holds responsible for the results of the decisions. A wise husband will consult with his wife in all major decisions that effects them and their children. The wife’s observance of the “chaste and respectful behavior” of her husband will prompt her to love and respect him all the more.

Peter does not belittle the external adornment of the wife; but he emphasizes that “imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit” that is “precious in the sight of God.” Further, Peter reminds his readers that “Sarah obeyed Abraham,” voluntarily calling him “lord” (master).

What delight reigns in the home that follows this Scriptural instruction! The children will notice the arrangement and become positioned for their own roles when they marry. As the home goes, so goes the nation!

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,

2 Timothy 3:12-15, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

We are living in times that are deluged with trouble! Problems of all kinds – physical, economic, spiritual – seem to abound without cessesion! We try to do right and live godly lives, but pressures from everywhere seem to be upon us! Is there an answer or are we just to put up with things that lean heavily against us?

You’ve heard the expression, “There’s no rest for the wicked”? The Apostle Paul tells us here that there is no rest from the wicked. Those who desire to live righteous lives will be especially persecuted, things just going from worse to worse. What are we to do in times like these?

The teaching here from Paul is that we should “continue in the things (we) have learned,” starting “from childhood” — from parents, grandparents, Godly teachers in school, but especially from the Bible! “Wisdom” is knowing how to live righteously amid a godless, sinful world. And it is that wisdom that leads us to “salvation through faith…in Jesus Christ.”

If you have come to know Christ in a personal, spiritual way, you already have His strength and power to overcome troubles. If you have yet to come to faith in Him, you’re still able, although time is quickly running out! Get your Bible and start reading the New Testament, especially the Gospel of John! Then, offer an earnest prayer to God, committing yourself to Him. He always hears! What’s more, He answers sincere and earnest prayer!

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