The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 2:1-12, “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 ‘But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.
7 ‘I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 ”Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

Hardly a day goes by, but that the LORD is challenged by those who deny Him or His ultimate power. Yet, the Power of the LORD exists (vv1-9), because the LORD Himself exists, despite His warning to the pitiful, provocative mortals (vv 10-12).

Why is the LORD challenged? Could it not be because He is feared? When we were children and frightened of things, the easiest means of erasing fear was to cover our heads in absolute rejection of the fear’s existance. Such fears and their denials now carry over into adulthood.

The LORD stearnly warns the kings of nations to show discernment. He
who created us and the spacious environment in which we live—He lives and He is worthy of our praise and worship! His sinless Son is also, worthy of our worship; for it was He who suffered and died for our sins!

The fires of Hell await those who deny our Savior! Love and trust the Son who loves you and patiently awaits your acceptance of Him. Still, He will not wait forever. Today is the day of salvation!

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.”

You have probably heard that those who are charged with inspecting
fraudulent paper money always concentrate on the true and valid bill. When they are confronted with a fraudulent bill, they then immediately know it to be invalid.

Virtually, everything works according to that procedure. The first three verses of Psalm 1 speak of our walking in the way of righteousness. That is the way that pleases the LORD. The result is: “…in whatever he does, he prospers.” That prosperity may not come in the way the doer anticipates; but it will come!

The last three verses concern the one who walks in unrighteous ways—ways that are not pleasing to the LORD. Nothing he does will prosper.
In fact, everything he does will be driven away, as it were, by the wind.
He will not endure (????) because “the way of the wicked (?????? ) will
perish.”

Each of us (writer and reader) will give an account of our lives to the LORD. Are we truly ready to stand before Him in judgment? I pray that we are.

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 Corinthians 1:5-9, “For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;
7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;
9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead…”

Were you ever so scared that you despaired of life itself? There are millions of people in our world today who would rather die than suffer the pain and agony they experience day-by-day.

The history of Christianity is literally bathed in the blood of believers. If you have yet to read John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, you have missed the plethora of danger and death that has plagued those who have dared to trust and follow the LORD Jesus Christ throughout history. The instances of pain and suffering cited in that book are often “bone chilling.”

It is more than probable that the Apostle Paul and his companions witnessed far more than is revealed in his biblical accounts. Why, then, would he suffer? Why not tread a bit easier on the denunciation of sin in the lives of those who are without Christ? Simply stated, that is not the Christian way. Christ Jesus suffered far more intensely than any in His day or in ours.

Remember that Paul said, “…we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead…” There was no one upon whom they could depend to help; they just “relaxed” in the truth that were they to die, believing that the LORD Himself could raise them up –even from the dead!

It is not easy to live a truly Christian life. Yet, the LORD knows those who are His, and He will comfort and strengthen us in every situation as we stand faithfully with and for Him. Remember Peter’s words, too:

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

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 Corinthians 1:1-5, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

Have you ever greeted someone who responsed, “I am the CEO of the company”? It might have been helpful to know that, but it would certainly have been better had someone else shared that he was “the CEO.”

One of the factors that prompts us to admire Paul, is that he always presented himself as a lowly messenger of Jesus Christ. The word “apostle” (?????????)
has over time come to be admired as a position of status. Yet, it was not a symbol of status in biblical times.

Paul was unquestionably the author of the Corinthian epistles, yet he graciously introduces Timothy as his spiritual “brother.” This is undoubtedly the manner in which we should introduce our spiritual companions. Not everyone I knew in the days of my evangelistic travels were my physical companions; yet, there were innumerable believers who companioned with me through their prayers. We can (and should) do the same with our pastors and missionaries.

Grace (????? ) simply means “kindness, blessing.” Today, it might be translated as “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” It is indeed a term of kindness, as is it’s oft- companion, “peace” (??????). Both words were spiritually transitional in nature.
They were what could be expected from the hearts and mouths of Christ’s servants.

That the LORD was their “Father of mercies (?????????) and comfort
(??????????),” seems a subtle transition into coming affliction (??????); yet they
possessed the comfort of Almighty God. What’s more, we possess His comfort
and protection when we are in spiritual battles; for all spiritual battles concern
our LORD. And He is ever faithful to deliver us, no matter how abundant they are. Are you in the battle for our LORD Jesus Christ? Don’t go AWOL! Stand
true for Him! He is standing true for 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,

2 Timothy 2:15-21, “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and
they upset the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’
and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.’
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of
earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified,
useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

Quite truthfully, our family has a few very nice pieces collected from various countries where we have
been privileged to minister on behalf of our LORD Jesus Christ. Still, I have to admit that most of what we have collected over the years would bring only a pitance. The value of anything is how meaningful
it is to the owner.

Sometimes the owner stumbles when attempting to decide whether some is valuable at all. Unfortuantely, the two men in verse 17, Hymenaeus and Philetus, strayed from the Truth and upset a host of serious believers. The root of Hymenaeus’ name comes from Humen, a god related to weddings and marriage. Philetus came from paganistic Rome. Bedfellows, but not strangers!

Note that they both had opportunity to receive the Gospel. They chose, however, to “stray from the Truth.” Those who propagate heresy are always those who have resisted the Truth when it was presented to them. I have read biographies of scientists, who were reared within the sound of the Gospel, but abandoned it for an evil lifestyle and an advocacy of heresy. Even the Christian Post, appears to feature those with current evil lifestyles that attract readers to what they now believe rather than the Truth they abandoned.

Paul never pulls his punches! If anyone who currently embraces evil and propagates untruth, cleanses himself by a spiritual apology to the LORD, “he will be a vessel of honor.” That repentant one will then be honored, much like gold and silver vessels. Wouldn’t it be an honor to have a replica of someone godly gracing your home? You do! His Name is Jesus and He’s right there in your Bible!

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