The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

“Temptation” by definition is a solicitation to engage in evil. It may come from others, who say, “Oh, come on! This will be fun! You will enjoy it like nothing you’ve ever experienced.”
Or, it may issue forth from your own mind when it is not focused upon nobler things the LORD God has given you.

In any event, temptation does not come from God. He is never the author of it, although He may at times allow it as a test of our commitment to the LORD Jesus Christ. We may not know our own limitation to the temptation that is upon us. Yet, we have the LORD’s promise that He “will not allow (us) to be tempted” more severly than we can handle.

With each temptation that seeks to assail us, we have the opportunity to resist. Satan is clever, saying, “This won’t hurt. You will like it. Try just a little.” Yet, to those of us who are born again and dedicated solely to the will of our LORD Jesus Christ, we have the ability to say “NO!” And with each rejection of Satan’s temptations, we become stronger in our resistance.

Corinth was a wicked city! Perhaps that is why the LORD allowed the Apostle Paul to write
two Letters to the Church there. Perhaps, also, that is why we should read and study what Paul teaches in both letters concerning the value of resisting temptation. If our lives are truly comitted to Christ, we will relish the apostle’s instruction. And the resistance to all temptation to do evil will bring joy and added strength against future temptations. May our LORD bless you abundantly as you follow His biblical instruction.

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,

1 Corinthians 15:51-57, “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
55 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Remember when you were a child? You awakened early with excitement? Someone was coming – someone you hadn’t seen in a long time! Excitation thrilled you! You simply could not wait! “When is he coming?” you shouted. Eventually, all that you had anticipated actually occurred; and when you went to sleep that night, the fun you had encountered was rehearsed again and again in your mind.

There are those, however, who awaken from sleep with fear. What they have facing them is far from pleasant. Their responsibilities for the day are most unpleasant –so much so, that they are reluctant to get out of bed.

The Apostle Paul’s words in our verses above anticipated the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. Death is not the end of everything. It is the anticipation of His Coming. Nothing is to be dreaded. Christ Jesus is coming; and He will take those who have trusted in Him to His heavenly home. They will be Raptured –caught up– to meet the LORD Jesus in the air, and will live with Him eternally in Heaven.

Are you ready to meet Him? Have you asked His forgiveness for your sins? Have you committed your life to Him? There’s a great day coming –greater than any visit from a dear and loving friend. Just pray a simple prayer. Ask Christ Jesus to forgive your sins. He promises to forgive you. Trust Him and thank Him. And live so as to be ready for His coming.

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 3:1-7, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these.
6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Are we living in the “last days”? Think what you will, but there are twenty-some indicators in these verses that say that we are. Read them again and then be honest in your assessment of where we are as a world.

Are we “lovers of self”? …of money? Do we boast of our accomplishments, whether they are personal or just aligned with us in some way? Are we arrogant? Do we speak slanderously of people we don’t like? Read the list again. Be honest in your assessment of those things that are connected with yourself. Are the items listed things that affect you? or are they things that you yourself bring to the list?

Some of my recent readings have warned of religions that are focused on bringing down nations of the free world –nations that claim to view Christ as the Answer to our world situation. Yet, while we acknowledge the focused intention of these nations, we have to ask ourselves whether ungodly nations are more dangerous to us than the sins that hold us hostage –sins mentioned in the verses above?

We’re living in extremely difficult times! We’re caught in a squeeze between the intention of neighboring nations and things of personal delight. We must be something before we can do anything! The LORD longs for us to come to the knowledge of the truth. Christ IS that knowledge of Truth that we need. “Believe in the LORD Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31).

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death
of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Rom. 5:10-11).

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 15:1-8, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but he who regards reproof is sensible.
6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, but trouble is in the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

Did you ever say anything for which you were sorry? Have you ever acted in any “way, shape or manner” (my mother’s trilogy) for which you were sorry? To ask such a question is to answer it: of course, you have! Notice, too, that we have cited only eight of the 33 verses in this chapter. It is replete with wisdom and warning.

Words originate in the mind, but protrude from the tongue in the mouth. They are either gentle or harsh. They either make good sense and become encouraging, or they are stupid and hurtful and breed folly in the listener’s heart.

Human eyes can also serve positively or negatively (Psa 35:19); yet the divine eyes of the LORD discern both evil and good.
Fools reject discipline, but the one who embraces it proves he has good sense. “The lips of the wise spread knowledge…”
Words of wisdom form conduits of knowledge and blessing. “The prayer of the upright is the LORD’s delight.”

There was a little children’s song we kids used to sing:

“Be careful little ears what you hear,
Be careful little ears what you hear,
For the Father up above is looking down in tender love,
Be careful little ears what you hear.”

Eyes and tongues do communicate! Whether they are used to
uplift or to crush is up to the communicator. Just remember:
we always reap exactly what we sow. Are you under His control?

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 14:30-34, “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing, but the righteous has a refuge when he dies.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but in the hearts of fools it is made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

The entirety of this Proverb is loaded with contrasting situations. “A tranquil heart,” in verse 30, for example, reposes in bold contrast to “rottenness.” Further, the concept of “honor” challenges “oppression” in verse 31.

Throughout these few verses we find things that are right contrasted with things that are wrong. We have to admit that we are like Solomon, who knew explicitly what was right, but often took the wrong path in his own life.

Notice carefully, too, that the contrasts measure individuals until we come to verse 34. Then righteousness is the active concept that uplifts the nation as a whole, while it is sin that brings down the avalanche of disgrace upon any nation and its people.

While much of our daily news cannot be trusted; the Word of the LORD knows only truth.
Scriptural truth in the heart of a nation results in the flow of morality throughout the corridors of government. It’s easy to spot the wrong in elected leaders, but seldom do we acknowledge that it is “we the people” who have elected them.

When we become within ourselves that which pleases the LORD, we will suddenly discover that those who represent us in government are making choices that align with what our nation needs. For “wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding”; and the Head from which wisdom issues forth is ultimately from God.

All that being said, when “we the people” demand and get “term limits” for Congress, we will suddenly discover that there are scores of citizens whose lives link closely with the LORD, and will find they can serve our nation well, as they serve our Blessed Jesus. Let’s start praying on that 50-Yard Line!

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