The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Titus 3:1-5, “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,
2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit…”

Did you attend to that little matter I mentioned? Oh, boy! I forgot! Ever found yourself in that kind of predicament? Oh, yeah! I’m more than sure you have. Well Paul is reminding Titus of some things –things he wants us to remember, too. First, pay attention to the law and to those who are above us. Don’t criticize your leaders. Yes, they make mistakes, too; but we ought to pray for them instead of just criticizing them. Be peaceable. Do good things, not evil things like we’ve all done in the past.

Yes, we were just as bad as those we criticize today. But, when Jesus entered our lives, we changed. He saved us spiritually, habitually, motivationally –we became “new creatures.” Our verses above call that “regeneration” –spiritual new birth. The LORD gave us new life, all-the-while forgiving us of our past errors, mistakes, sins! He cleansed us from what was evil, washed us clean and put the Holy Spirit within us.

That cleared us of all previous sins. They will never be held against us. He also put His Holy Spirit within us to guide and lead us in ways that are acceptable to Him. Have you had that experience? Just admit to Him the things you’ve done that were wrong –your sins! Ask Him to forgive you. Then follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. It’s so easy that some overlook it; they let it slip by without trusting Him. Give Him your heart and life! It’s the beginning of a glorious life! Trust what I’m saying; then trust Christ Jesus! He loves you! And He never fails!

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,

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all
men,
12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly,
righteously and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God
and Savior, Christ Jesus,
14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify
for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

One of the exciting aspects of travel is eating the foods of various countries. The food in India is simply unexcelled. Eating deer in Sweden was delightful, barely surpassing the dark whale in Norway! Wonderful experiences everywhere! But were you ever served food that you simply refused to eat? Whose loss do you reckon it was?

It’s much like that with salvation. The LORD God graciously sent His Son, Jesus, to bring us salvation; yet there are some who refuse to receive Him. His instruction is that all mankind might receive salvation through His Son. God wills that we divest ourselves of sinful habits and desires, and live righteous and holy lives –lives that are a credit to Him and to His Son!

Jesus Christ gave His life, dying on the Cross and shedding His blood –all for our sins. We are to distance ourselves from beliefs and habits — all things that would demonstrate an alliance with Satan.

We are to accept Jesus as our LORD, and live righteous and godly lives, looking earnestly and excitedly for His Coming again. Do you know Him? He has made Himself available to you, but you must experience Him by faith. “”Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Be ready for His Return! If you are not ready when He comes, you will be left behind.

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 30:5-9, “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His words or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
7 Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is my portion,
9 That I not be full and deny You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

My dad’s father was a blacksmith, and it is impossible for me to read the word “tested” in verse 5 without thinking of him. His responsibility was to keep the miners’ picks sharp; and to do this, he must drive from the iron ore all the impediments that would weaken the miners’ tools.

The words of our passage speak of the Word of God and how in its purity it passes all tests regarding accuracy and veracity. It instructs us with truth and shields us from evil, as we believe His Word and take refuge in Him.

The truthfulness of the LORD’s Word shields us from all deception and harm. That is His reason for prohibiting any alterations. To alter His Word is to challenge Him. And who is qualified to challenge either the Word or Almighty God who authored it? The cornerstone of biblical truth is His Word’s inspiration and infallibility. From this infallible Word, we gain the knowledge and strength to trust the LORD in every conceivable situation.

Possessing too much wealth betrays us into believing we are self-sufficient. Let a portion of food be our sufficiency, lest we challenge the LORD, and charge Him with being unfaithful. He is consistently faithful to us; thus, we must be consistently faithful to Him. What event do you face that escapes His notice? What event do you face that eludes His power to erase it? Think about it.

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 Timothy 6:6-9, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything
out of it either.
8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

Hardly a day goes by that my inbox doesn’t receive an invitation to be happy by making money! If they are right, then tell me why many who have money are so often discontent with life. This only leads me to believe that the enormity of riches is not the source of human contentment. If not, then what is?

Many of the godly men in Scripture possessed enormous riches. Surely, then, riches themselves are not wrong. The Apostle Paul takes great care in guiding young Timothy in this matter. As he does so, he guides us as well, if we will but listen and follow his instructions. There is only one sure means of being content; it is godliness! Knowing the LORD, being committed to Him, listening to His words, following and resting in His instructions –that is the sole means of contentment.

Nothing that we now possess was ours at birth; and nothing we possess at our hour of death will go with us. So, why are we so concerned about those things now? The only two things we genuinely need are food and clothing; and with these, we are told to be content. Moving, as often necessitated by those in ministry, has required my leaving behind many things I thought to be important. Yet, even those souvenirs I did retain, now rest in dust in my garage.

LORD, spare me from all temptations that would turn my thoughts away from You! Let peace supersede prosperity! Let godliness be my means of great gain!

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,

Colossians 2:5-8, “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

Have you ever received something, you didn’t know what to do with? That occurs in the lives of some newly, born-again Christians. They have received Jesus Christ as their Savior and LORD, but have no knowledge as to what to do further. This situation occurs more often that you would think.

To “be firmly rooted…(and) built up in Him” means you have become an earnest believer, who views salvation as the primary responsibility for which there is an ever-consistent overflow of gratitude.

Further, it means avoiding philosophies and pathways that lead to captivity of the human soul. It promises freedom and righteousness that are only available in and through Christ. Human philosophy comes by way of deception. It promises to enable one to accomplish things, without conforming to the teachings of Christ.

Thus, this philosophy that replaces Christ and His teachings, leads downward on a path to utter destruction. Trust Jesus! Follow His teachings in Scripture! Right thinking leads to the upward way of life in Christ, and sets the course for a godly, mature life in Him. That’s the course to follow! Are you on it?

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