The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Peter 3:12-17, “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.
17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

The word “reverence” that I have highlighted in verse 15 above is mentioned in 26 verses of the Bible. Twenty-two of the references are in the Old Testament; four are in the New. I have in my library a copy of Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English Language. He cites our English word reverence, as being from the Latin word reverentia, meaning “fear mingled with respect and esteem…”

Webster says, “We reverence superiors for their age, their authority and their virtues. We ought to reverence parents and upright judges and magistrates. We ought to reverence the Supreme Being, His Word and His ordinances.”

My grandparents were all committed to faith in our LORD Jesus Christ. My maternal grandfather was an ordained minister; and my parents were schooled well in reverence, both inside and outside the church building where we worshipped. We did not run in the building. We gave solemn attention to the pastor and his message whether we understood it all or not.

In my adult life, I have travelled extensively throughout the world, where I met some notable church and governmental authorities. Thankfully, I had learned how to be reverent. My parents had taught me well. I learned not to talk in church! I stood. I sang. I sat. I listened; and I learned! To have done less would have been disrespectful to the pastor and the guests and the LORD.

Why is there so much irreverence in churches today? Where is the quiet time of silent prayer and holy meditation? Are we truly there to reverence the LORD? We are living in what may well be the last days of human history! How do we want to be discovered when the LORD returns for us in the Rapture?

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