The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 5:7-11, “Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”

There are many admirable things about Dr. Martin Luther. Luther, however, invited disagreement when he spoke of James’ epistle as a “strawy epistle.” Many biblical scholars believe that Luther rejected James because James emphasized good works instead of faith. Careful attention to James’ epistle, however, shows that his emphasis on good works is as the result of faith, rather than the means of faith.

My personal “trouble” with James’ epistle is that he emphasizes patience. It’s extremely convicting, because I’m not by nature a patient person; and four times, James uses the word! It’s as if he’s aiming his message directly at me! Forty times overall, the Scripture uses the word “patience.” Twelve times we find it in the Old Testament; 28 times we find it in the New! Are we, who live under New Testament guidance, less patient than Israel and others of Old Testament times? Apparently so. We seem gripped in the jaws of the “I-want-it-now” category.

James’ lovingly practical appeal is that we “…let patience (endurance) have her perfect work.” Simple headaches are often solved by swallowing aspirin. But, even then, it’s not immediate! The aspirin takes time to work. So it is with the troublesome vicissitudes of life. The LORD’s timing is quite often not ours. Yet, He is the Great Physician, and we must remember that. Those who followed Him throughout their lifetime, we have counted as “having been blessed.” So, let us live that those who follow us in life will call us blessed, too.

Faithfully and fervently study the Life of Jesus Christ! Entrust your life fully to Him and learn patience. I promise you readers that I will earnestly try. Will you faithfully join me?

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,

James 4:1-4, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
2 You lust (covet) and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God….”

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

There is little-to-no doubt but that our world is in a colossal mess! On every hand, things that were formerly acceptable to say and do are now becoming subject to challenge from everywhere. People who have only recently become aware of this conflict are asking, “What in the world is going on?”

James responds to the question, saying that the trouble comes from within believers themselves. We love pleasure too much! And the source of that pleasure is rooted in an internal conflict within ourselves. Covetness and hatred, even to the point of murder, have taken over our lives. We are living for ourselves and not for the LORD, who died and rose again to give us true life. Even when we pray, we receive no answer because God sees wrongful motives underlying our prayers.

Hope arises, when we discover that there is an answer to the madness that permeates our world. First, we must submit ourselves to God. We must reduce substantially the selfishness that pushes the evil agenda in our own lives. We must confess our sin and genuinely repent before God. At that point, we can sincerely draw near to God, and He promises to draw near to us. He will exalt us all the more, when we humble ourselves before Him. Our problems have their origin within our own lives. Thankfully, there is an answer; hopefully, His answer will come soon.

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,

James 1:13-17, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.”

Temptation (???????, peirazo) is the act of “being put to the test.” James allows that we have all been tempted to do wrong. Sometimes it seems a frivolous thing, like finding something someone has carelessly dropped, but not making effort to learn the rightful owner. At other times, and in anger, we muze over how we can do violence against someone and not be discovered. There is a considerable distance between those two actions; yet the immorality is the same, and both are condemned by Almighty God.

Believing Christians are warned against allowing themselves to be deceived. We sometimes allow that what we’re doing is “not that bad,” or “no worse than what others do.” Yet, all good and perfect things are those that emanate from God. No immorality, however gross or however benign, is ever acceptable to God. He is thoroughly pure and holy and desires that we be pure and holy, also.

Good things are bestowed upon believers by the LORD, Who resides in Heaven. His Perfect Gift was His Son Jesus Christ, whom He gave as the Supreme Sacrifice for the sins of the world. Christ
died on the Cross as the Father’s sacrifice for mankind’s sin. All humanity that accepts by faith Christ Jesus as LORD and Savior, will be eternally saved. There is never the slightest change in the Father with regard to His Son. Nor will the Father ever change His mandate that men and women alike must turn from their sin and believe upon His Son. There is other way to be saved from sin and to escape eternity in Hell.

Where do you stand before Him? Have you turned from sin and been saved? If not, trust Him today! If you have trusted Him, are you sharing Him with friends, loved ones, and others who have yet to meet Him? You are in my prayers that you may become all that He wants you to become. And may God bless you abundantly!

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,

James 1:1-5, “James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad, greetings.
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Have you ever experienced a problem? I mean a problem that was so complicated that you just could not figure it out? If you’re being honest with yourself, there have been many. Some, of course, were not enormous; but which of them produced joy in your life? Probably, not many –maybe even none. Most of us don’t enjoy problems. We want everything to run smoothly. But, life simply does not accommodate us in that way.

James had obviously experienced numerous difficulties in the course of his life. What’s more, he had found the answer to life’s most serious problems. He said, “Just consider it as joy!” The trials of life are thrown in our way as a means of testing us. And he says, “consider it joyfully?” But, what do we do if the difficulty is one we’ve never faced? We simply ask someone who has faced it, “What did you do?”
Where could I go? Oh, where could I go?
Needing a refuge for my soul;
Needing a friend
To help me in the end,
Where could I go, but to the LORD?

Suddenly, the aggrivation of the test is transformed into joy! The true answer was much closer than we had realized! In the meantime, we had not been crushed; we can smile – we can rejoice! Our trust has become victory! Everything is suddenly “perfect…complete, lacking in nothing!” How did all of this come about? Who produced this miracle? It was the One in whom we placed our trust: the LORD Jesus Christ! He has solved the problem! –the one we thought impossible.

The lesson has been learned. We’ve learned to trust in Jesus. He has solved the problem. Truthfully, there are no problems withoug an answer. He has faced them all –and survived. victoriously! Wisdom comes from Him and He stands ready to give that wisdom to all who ask His help. He gives generously and without the slightest chiding or teasing. Have you taken your problems to Jesus Christ? He not only has the answer; He IS the Answer! Trust Him today! You’ll be forever glad that you did! May He bless you as He has me! You are in my prayers.

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 2:15, “Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of truth.”
Ecclesiastes 12:12, “…be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”

There’s an old adage that says, “The more you learn, the more you forget; the more you forget, the less you know; the less you know, the less you forget. So why study?”

For one thing, studying is an exercise of the mind. Just as “push-ups” and running are exercises of the body, study is an exercise of the mind. But, have you noticed that Paul adds a dimension when he says that study is to be undertaken as an “approval” to God?

Have you ever given something to someone only to learn they never used it? That is certainly an indication of unconcern. The LORD has given us minds and bodies in order that He might be glorified in their usage. We show concern toward Him when we study.

At the same time, physical and mental exercise are not to be overdone. Everything is to be balanced. That is why Solomon warned “…the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books (i.e., study) is wearying to the body.”

Solomon also wrote that, “the heart of the righteous ponders how to answer…” (Prov. 15:28). Thinking of how to reply to someone presupposes study. The LORD desires that we exhibit intelligence in our communication with others. In that, He Himself is glorified. Therefore, don’t sweat the tests! Prepare yourself through diligent, prayerful attention to all the LORD has provided in His Holy Word; for it that very manner, you are faithfully responding in glory to 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