The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 1:5-16, “In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.
11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
13 But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 ‘You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 ‘For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 ‘And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.’”

I have to wonder how many readers of this Letter are faithful in praying to the LORD. Far too often, we all neglect to pray as we should. Then suddenly, difficulties surround us and our thoughts turn immediately to the LORD for help. We are blessed that the LORD is always near and faithful to us, and that we also have friends who are timely in trusting the LORD!

Who would have believed that Zacharias and Elizabeth, like Abraham and Sarah, would bear a son in their old age? They had been faithful to the LORD; now He is being faithful to them.

Can any reader of this Letter deny that he would have been frightened to have had an angel from the LORD suddenly appear before him? Yet, despite his sudden fear, Zacharias learned that his prayers had been answered and his wife would indeed bear a son. The son would be called John –John the Baptist– and like Elijah, John would turn many Israelites away from sin and back to the LORD their God.

John’s life and ministry would be directed by the Holy Spirit. Simultaneously, he was to refrain from wine and liquor, and be controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God. Oh, that our lives were so thoroughly controlled!
Are you and I what we ought to be in the sight of the LORD? Are we faithful? prayerful? obedient? Could it be that is why we see so few coming to Christ?

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