The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 9:6-12, “Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”
7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

Undoubtedly, you have heard the expression: “Stupid is as stupid does.” There may be multiple understandings of those five simple words. Regardless of the number of meanings one may attached to it, they all call for the same conclusion. Just examine the first few verses above in the light of anyone’s activity and see for yourself.

Solomon says that it’s virtually impossible to correct a scoffer or to reprove a wicked person without getting some “dirt” on your self. Correcting a wise man, however, will gain his admiration because it only contributes to his knowledge or wisdom.

Pay close attention to the LORD’s words, “the beginning of wisdom.” Wisdom is the application of knowledge. The knowledge we glean from the LORD and His Word, supersedes everything the world has to offer! Furthermore, we will live longer and be wiser. But if we rely on our own thinking, it profits nothing. What’s more, we will be held accountable for our own thinking –thinking that contributes negatively to that of others.

Note the LORD’s promise: “For by Me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.” Why would that be? Probably, because the LORD’s Words impact human life like no other, and those who choose to repeat them to others are doing the LORD’s work.

May the LORD give you wisdom to grasp His Words and apply them to your own life. May He then use you to apply His Words to the lives of others.

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 3:11-23, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble.”

Despite the multiple errors King Solomon committed in his life, the words he knits together in the Proverbs are of inestimable value to every generation.

Note that he bases everything on discipline that comes from the LORD. Discipline is first a principle of learning. If we learn from the LORD and are consistently obedient, we will prosper according to the LORD’s will. When we fail to learn and to practice what we have learned from the LORD, we will suffer the indignity of discipline through punishment.

Silver, gold, jewels, honor, peace –all delightful acquisitions—will accrue to those who learn and follow the ways of the LORD. Yet, who would not surrender all of these acquisitions for an extension of life? Still, none of the precious metals and jewels come even close to the pleasantness of the LORD and His ways.

Living in His pleasant ways and traveling on His paths of peace excels everything the world can allows us. It is when we walk in His way, we walk securely and our foot will not stumble. Are you walking with the LORD?

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,

Isaiah 1:15-20, “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.
19 “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

“You’re going to sit on the bench and watch your team mates play until you learn to obey instructions! You are not the head of this team, I am! So, the quicker you learn this, the quicker you’ll be back on the field!”

What this coach said paralleld what the LORD said in the opening chapter of Isaiah. Moreover, they were both right in what they said. Of course, the game varies quite a lot from life itself. Games come and go; the LORD deals with spiritual matters of which the cost is much higher.

His mandate has never changed: “Cease to do evil; learn to do good.” When will we learn? Of course, no individual is to blame for all the evil in the world. But we contribute to it! Thus, His mandate is true for us as much as it was for those in Isaiah’s day.

“Wash…clean; remove evil…cease to do evil…Learn to do good; seek justice…reprove the ruthless… defend the orphan…plead for the widow…” Review these needs and attend to them. Then, the promise of the LORD will be fulfilled in your life: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow…”

What would you give to know true, spiritual freedom? Yield your life and all your sin to God and you will see.
But what does it cost? Jesus He gave His life for you. May you learn of God’s abundant blessing is my 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

Dear Grands,

Exodus 33:18-23, “Then Moses said, ‘I pray You, show me Your glory!’
19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”
20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”
21 Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;
22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23 ‘Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

It was a difficult time for the nation of Israel. It was an equally difficult time for Moses, their leader. The LORD had promised to bring the nation into a land He had prepared for them; but there was a “wrinkle” that lay between Him and them. Moses wanted assurance that the LORD would go with him.

Then, in boldness, he said, “Show me Your glory!” Isn’t that what we really mean when we pray for the LORD’s direction and help? We’re saying that we are not capable of doing His will unless we have assurance that He is with us in the “doing.”

But, what are we to believe when we pray and receive
no answer to our prayers? One thing we must never do is give up praying! Persistency in prayer says to God that we are serious in our desires.

The LORD always answers the prayers of His own. He either says, “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait.” We never want to hear “no,” yet it is often for our good that He denies us what we ask. We seldom want to hear “wait,” because we want what we want immediately! Yet, our timing may not be in our best interest.

The one basic factor in any request is our relationship to Him. I’m sure that as a boy I asked things of my adult neighbors. Yet, their denials were proper because I was not their boy! Give your heart and life to Jesus and He will teach you to pray. He wants to give what will benefit you, but you must first belong 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

Dear Grands,

Ecclesiastes 5:1-6, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”
6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?”

I read a good bit in the news today that I simply do not believe. Even what might be called “Christian news” often gives me pause, for sometimes the “backstories” of those involved fills more of the column than what the person currently claims to be.

Especially is this true when we “go to the house of God…” Sometimes we think that it is sufficient when we offer hasty words borne of impulsive thoughts, only to forget what we have promised. The psalmist says that it is “better that (we) should not vow than that (we) should vow and not pay.”

Our speech causes us to sin when we promise some-thing, but don’t carry through with what we promise. We do expect the LORD to be true to His promises, don’t we? Then why should He not expect us to carry through with ours?

Think of the last time you made a promise to the LORD. Did you keep it? If not, why should you think the LORD should keep His promises? It’s easy to justify forgetting what we promised; yet, we want to hold Him to the promise He gives us. “…better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay” (vs. 5).

Start today with a solemn promise to carry through what you say. Now, how many times have you promised that you would stop doing…saying… being…, but you have not.

Give your life completely to Christ today. It will have never been in safer Hands –and for Eternity.

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