The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 1:1-6, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

Without question, we live in a vile, evil world. Every word of almost every man must be tested regarding his belief. Even ministers, who proclaim themselves ministers of the Gospel, often give wrong instruction and proclaim what they say to be the Word and way of the LORD.

How are we to know whether what is being said is true? The psalmist affirms the life of the righteous man to be “blessed” because he is one who does not “walk in the counsel of the wicked,” but “delights in the law of the LORD.”

Do you delight in the teachings of the Scriptures? Is your life mapped out according to the Words and way of the LORD? It is true that not every problem we encounter has an easy answer. Yet, if we belong to the LORD, we will receive His answer, and on time.

From the passage quoted above, we can be assured that the LORD has drawn a wide line between the righteous and the wicked. The wicked will not survive God’s divine judgment. They may appear to be surviving; but they will ultimately perish. Yet, the righteous who embrace and adhere to the will of the LORD, will themselves survive.

In one sense, therefore, a thin line appears to separate the two; yet, in the final sense, the LORD will enable the righteous to survive, while the wicked will perish. On which side of that thin line do you stand?

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,

Psalm 65:1-7, “There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion, O God, and to You the vow will be performed.
2 O You who hear prayer, to You all men come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You forgive them.
4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.
5 By awesome deeds, You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation; You who are the trust of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest sea;
6 Who establishes the mountains by His strength, being girded with might;
7 Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples.”

Quite simply, prayer is our talking to God. It is God who then hears and answers prayer. Have you ever been in the situation where the LORD was the only One with whom you could talk? Have you ever thought you were the only one who could talk to Him? Or have you ever doubted that He would even listen to you?

Well, forget your doubts about His hearing! The Scripture passage above tells us that all men come to Him with prayer. His response, however, may not be what you expect.

If the channel between you and the LORD is clogged with transgressions, you will first need to ask His forgiveness because He answers pray only for the righteous and only then through righteous channels.

If you question whether the LORD possesses the ability to deal with your situation, just remember that His Word says He “estabilshes the mountains by His strength” and “stills the roaring of the seas.” That seems to say that He is capable of successfully responding to all “the tumult of the people,” who call upon Him.

No one makes a serious request of the LORD that He cannot answer. His ways and timing, however, are not always to our liking. It may also be that what we want is not in our best interest. Sin in our lives may be the cause of our breach of fellowship with Him. When we are in good fellowship with the LORD, His response to our prayers will always be in our best interest.

So, seek the LORD in every situation. He may not respond as quickly as you wish, but it will always turn out for your best and for His glory!

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 55:6-12, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace…”

Did you ever simply get lost? You were hunting for game, but in an unfamiliar area. You had made a turn or two, while you were tracking a deer. Was this tree the one you passed a few minutes ago? It surely looks like it –but, then, all trees look somewhat alike, don’t they?

It may not have been a deer you were tracking, or a large tree and all, but what you remember the most is that you were lost! Then the friend who was with you unexpectedly called out, and suddenly, you and you weren’t lost any more!

All of that is somewhat like being spiritually lost. You know that something in life –in your life– is missing. If that’s true of you, then these verses were meant for you: “Seek the LORD…Call upon Him…” He promises that He is near and is listening for your voice. He also promises that His Word will not return to Him empty. He’s calling for you!

But, how I respond to someone I don’t really know? Just like you would if you were lost in the woods. When we’re physically lost, our emotions take over; and we do whatever we have to do to get someone’s attention– someone who knows the way out. It’s much like that with God. The only difference is that being spiritually lost has a much higher price tag. Eternity is forever.

Let’s start with the Bible. How about reading it daily? Let it speak to you.
It will tell you whether you’re lost; and it will tell you upon Whom to call. The LORD is not lost; but He’s in those woods, looking for you. And you’re in my thoughts and prayers.

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,

Hebrews 11:1-4, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.”

The 11th chapter of the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews deals exclusively with men and women who possessed faith in the LORD.

As a boy, I well remember the times that I was told, “If you do what I have asked you to do, you will be permitted to do something you would like to do.” I would then receive the privilege I had been promised. That was my initial training in what I later learned was called “faith.”

In time, I learned that faith expanded into other realms. Do a good job and receive a monetary reward. It even worked in church! Read each day the assigned Bible readings, and there is a spiritual reward for that.

Paul, the author of this Letter to the Hebrew (Jewish) people, used the word “faith” numerous times. More important than mere numbers, he listed the names of some notable persons, who had become Christians by simply believing in Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior.

No one is automatically “saved” or “born again.” Each of us has to believe in Jesus as the Father’s Sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary. Still, it’s more than just saying, “I believe in Jesus”; it’s a commitment of your life to Him. It’s allowing Jesus to become your “Spiritual Parent” and faithfully instruct you in things He wants you to be and do.

Some things the LORD wants from us are the same things He wants from others. Some things, however, are different. Just like parents are different. What’s truly important is that the LORD is always correct; therefore, we will never go wrong obeying Him! Trust Him today!

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,

Galatians 5:13-17, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”

It is difficult –dare I say, impossible?—to hear or read a newscast without reading of a conflict? From the earliest days in the Garden of Eden, there has been conflict –conflict that has since raged throughout the whole of the human race.

The Christians of Galatia were in conflict, requiring the Apostle Paul to remind them that they were “called to freedom” and were “not to turn (their) freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.” They were to “serve one another.” In fact, they were to go further and “love (their) neighbor(s) as (themselves).”

Yet, how does that work? How are we to love those who don’t love us in return? It’s simple. Paul says, “…walk by the Spirit” and you will not end up being fleshly or selfish. Admittedly, that’s not easy to do.

Let’s say your neighbor’s house and lawns are never kept up, making where you live far less attractive. You don’t confront your neighbor; you don’t report him to the city authorities. You kindly offer to assist him in doing what needs to be done. You may not know the real reason he is not more active than he is.

The Bible is a book about change –your change and mine! When we are committed to the LORD Jesus Christ, and seek to obey His Word, the Holy Spirit will cause us to be a peace with our neighbors. If they notice the change in you– and if they comment on it, you will have opportunity to tell them about Jesus.

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