The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:4-11. “I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;
6 and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.
7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper,
9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you– since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus–
10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment,
11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.”

Onesimus was a runaway slave. He had belonged to Philemon, the Christian to whom Paul was addressing this communication. Through circumstances we are not told, Onesimus had come to faith in Jesus Christ. Possibly, the Apostle Paul was the one who had led him to that faith.

Paul had no legal authority to require Philemon to forgive Onesimus. He did, however, have spiritual authority inasmuch as he had also led Philemon to faith in Christ.

Still, Paul’s heart-appeal was that Philemon might forgive Onesimus, since Philemon himself had received forgiveness from the LORD.

This brief, personal letter, composed of but one chapter of only 25 verses, is a masterpiece of spiritual psychology. It both condemns and offers release to each of us from the sinful commitments resident in our own lives.

You and I are not forgiven personal sin by merely reading this letter; however, we are herein acquainted with the love and forgiveness the LORD offers to us for sin we have committed against Him, as well as against others.

If you’ve ever believed you were forever “worthless,” due to sins you have committed, you can now know relief by better understanding the forgiveness of our loving LORD. His gracious forgiveness also strengthens us that we might never committing those sins again.

Read His Word daily. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins. Pray a simple prayer every day. Thank Him for forgiving you. You will be amazed at what He can do!

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 2:1-8, “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;
7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,
8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

Every parent, who is worthy of that designation, possesses the desire that his or her child will live out their ideals. Parents who have no “ideals” to pass on to their children are depriving them of a rich heritage.

These 46 verses in Paul’s Letter to Titus have as their subject “God’s Ideal.” Paul is concerned that the Church would be honoring to the LORD. For that to be realized, those who are charged with leading must also be honoring to the LORD in their life styles. They must be “above reproach” in all things!

If memory serves me well, it was Chaucer who said, “If gold rust, what will iron do?” Think about that! No church rises to the LORD’s desired level without purity in its leadership. The qualities Paul desires are the qualities the LORD requires for leadership in His Church.

It all originates within the home. When the mother and father are of spiritual quality, their children will show spiritual qualities. As the children mature, they will become leaders in the Church and the spirit of the Church will exemplify the LORD.

How is your church? Does it magnify the LORD? Does it reverence Him in worship? It all originates in the hearts and lives of the people. Thus, it starts with you. Learn to trust the LORD; learn to lean upon Him for everything! You will be blessed, and the church will always magnify Him in and through your life!

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 4:10-15, “Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
11 The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
12 “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”
13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.’”

Many arguments circle around one person wanting to do what others believe should be left to someone else. In this case, it was the other way around. The LORD had elected Moses to be the leader; but Moses begged off, saying, among other things, that he could not speak with sufficient elegance. (I dare say most of us would accept a leadership role without a negative thought!)

Still, many (some might say, most) of those who vie for leadership lack one or more of the basic characteristics that is needed.

We might guess that there was a more basic reason for Moses’ desire to be omitted as the leader; still, what establishes this confrontation as basic is that in the end Moses became the kind of supreme leader that Aaron would never have become. The LORD always knows best!

The key question for us is: When will we learn that the LORD always places the right people in the right positions. When someone ignores the LORD and seeks to position himself in a place of his own choosing, things always go wrong and the LORD has to extricate the one in favor of another.

Are you currently positioned where the LORD wants you? It’s easy to assume that you would do better if you were in leadership; yet, you would quickly learn that leadership requires more than you thought –more knowledge, more skill, and definitely more energy.

Don’t argue with the LORD about where He places you! He might just relieve you of all responsibilities! Just relax, and trust Him. The Father always knows best –always!

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 4:13-15, “But he said, ‘Please, LORD, now send the message by whomever You will.’ Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, ‘Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And, moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
15 ‘You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.’”

Sixty years ago, I heard this story. Whether it is apocryphal or true, I do not know. What I do know is – well, listen and you tell me.

The seminary was winding up its year, and it was customary for one of the students to be selected to give an address to the entire school. The faculty poured over the records and selected a fine, young man as the annual speaker.

The student was scared-to-death! His forte was as a scholar in the classroom. He had never given more than a short talk in one or two of his classes. Speak to the whole school?

“Oh, no!” he pleaded. But there was no backing out. He had been faculty-selected, and he was going to face the school with a formal address.

The day came, and he was literally shaking as he stood before the entire school.

“Duh…duh…do you know wha…what I…I’m about to say?”

Of course, his subject had never been announced, so the entire school body said loudly and politely, “NO!”

“Wuh…well…neither do I, so let’s all go home.”

The exhausted speaker was devastated. “I’ve…I’ve ruined everything,” he said.

“No, you haven’t,” said the dean. “You’re just not used to speaking in public. Go back and study a bit more. We’ll let you speak again next week.”

Self-dejected, he dutifully returned to the books. He was not happy, but there was no other way out. He had to address the school –the entire school!

When the day finally came, he was on the platform, but not in good form for speaking. Yet, he stood, walked to the lectern, coughed nervously, looked frightenedly at the school body, and said, “Duh…duh…do you know wha…what I…I’m about to say?”

Having been present at the speaker’s last attempt, and knowing his concluding remark, the students were not about to be fooled again. In chorus, they loudly proclaimed, “Yes!”

The speaker then remarked, “If you already know, then there’s no reason for me to repeat it. So, let’s all go home.” Again, he dismissed the audience and everyone left the auditorium.

Once again, after a laborious hour with the young seminarian speaker, the dean and members of the faculty were able to persuade him to try one more time to deliver the annual student address.

It was the third occasion, and the fright that had attended the young man on two previous occasions, had not dissipated one iota. He staggered to the lectern, gripping it as if life itself was hanging in the balance. Sweat poured from every avenue of his face and virtually soaked the paper he had prepared to share.

Whatever changed from his previous two attempts, his opening words were the same.

““Duh…duh…do you know wha…what I…I’m about to say?”

His fellow-students were now thoroughly confused. Some said, “Yes,” and snickered beneath their breath. But some said, “No,” because they still had no hint as to what he might say.

Hearing the division within the student body, the young speaker then said, “Well, those who know, tell those who don’t know, and let’s all go home.”

Literally mortified that he had failed three times, the dejected young speaker-to-be left the auditorium in devastating defeat!

“I am a total failure,” he said, “a total, total failure!”

“Oh, no!” said the dean. “You’re not a failure. In fact, we want you to stay with the school and teach! For what you said is a fundamental, biblical truth. It’s for those who know to tell those who don’t –before we all go Home.”

Heartily & Hopefully for 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,

Jeremiah 50:33-37, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well; and all who took them captive have held them fast, they have refused to let them go.
34 ‘Their Redeemer is strong, the LORD of hosts is His name; He will vigorously plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 ‘A sword against the Chaldeans,’ declares the LORD, ‘and against the inhabitants of Babylon and against her officials and her wise men!
36 ‘A sword against the oracle priests, and they will become fools! A sword against her mighty men, and they will be shattered!
37 ‘A sword against their horses and against their chariots and against all the foreigners who are in the midst of her, and they will become women! A sword against her treasures, and they will be plundered!’”

If you’ve read world news lately, you’ve doubtlessly noticed the plethora of wars that prevail throughout the world. It was the same in ancient times, only that the ancients did not have the Internet with which to combat. Yes, our world is in a mess!

For many years, I have sought to emphasize that the tiny nation of Israel is ever and always under the LORD’s protection. The Jews are His people, but only historically so. Israel is in His care to the extent that He brought them back into their own land in A.D. 1948 –just as He had promised!

Here in verse 33 above, the LORD bewails the oppression of Israel. Despite His physical presents and His strength supporting Israel, those who took her captive refused to allow her to leave. Yet, Israel possesses a Friend, whose strength mightily exceeds that of her captors.

The hour was gloomy for Israel. There seemed to be no way out. But then, that Friend of Israel arises in supreme power, well beyond that of her captors. He raises four swords against Israel’s enemies and they are plundered!

Israel today faces enemies seemingly as insurmountable as in Jeremiah’s day. Yet, in the end, the LORD’s actions produce the cry, “Babylon has been seized!” (vs. 46). The Hand of the LORD is victorious! And so shall it be for the lives and works of Jews and Gentiles, who trust and rely on His Son whose death and resurrection promise deliverence!
Did you know that He wills you to be encompassed in that promise? He does!

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