The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Samuel 5:1-5, “Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
3 When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.
4 But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

Some days it just doesn’t pay to get up. Sometimes it’s worse than that. The Philistines, arch-enemies of the Israelites, had dared to positioned their god Dagon overnight and in close proximity to the Ark of God. What they discovered the following morning was that Dagon had fallen on its face, so they had to reset the idol once again to a standing position.

When something we adore or even reverence as a “god” cannot keep its own face out of the mud overnight, it ought to say something to us. Yet, the trust that some people place in the “games of life” are as worthless as a wooden idol that can’t fend for itself.

Gambling, drinking, driving while drinking, and taking pills known for their “high effect” are simply a few of the countless “gods” that labor to ruin the upward stance of other self-made gods today.

Not every god, however, is an activity. Pride and arrogance may be easier to conceal; however, they ultimately fall into disrepute and humiliate those who so clothe themselves. In time, as with Dagon, pride and arrogance experience downfalls. Dagon’s head and the palms of his hands signaled his uselessness of both mind and work-achievement.

There are enormous Dagons in our world today! They beg for our admiration and service. We should be encouraged to use our “heads and hands” only for the glory of Almighty God!

Take a moment and assess yourself. What are you doing to honor the LORD? Has He commissioned you to do something honoring His Name? Are you faithful to Him? The hour is late. False gods abound. Jesus calls us! Time is running out.

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 Samuel 3:1-10, “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD before Eli. And word from the LORD was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.
2 It happened at that time as Eli was lying down in his place (now his eyesight had begun to grow dim and he could not see well),
3 and the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was,
4 that the LORD called Samuel; and he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
6 The LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he answered, “I did not call, my son, lie down again.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him.
8 So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.'” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

There is something about the inexperience of young children that is delightful! So, with my youth well behind me, I am approaching this passage with both fear and knowledge.

The LORD’s call to the young Samuel was for the purpose of bringing him more completely into the work the LORD had for him to do. Just abiding in the temple was hardly sufficient. He was being prepared to serve the LORD.

I can remember when I heard the LORD’s call upon my life. Like the boy Samuel, I initially possessed no knowledge whatsoever regarding what He wanted of me or what constituted the work. It’s like that with all of the “firsts” in our lives, is it not? Instruction comes before the labor.

Thankfully, Samuel was a “first responder.” He did not initially inquire regarding the call. He simply obeyed. Obedience is vitally important! It enculcates both the “what to do,” as well as the “how to do it.” We all need excellent training before launching out into the LORD’s work!

It took time for young Samuel to understand the Voice of the LORD. It took even more time
for him to learn to do the work with efficiency. Poor old Eli. He, too, even with the years of
dedication and obedience to the LORD, did not immediately discern that the Voice Samuel heard was the Voice of the LORD. Yet, when he did understand, he moved quickly and efficiently into “obedience mode.” When he did, he quickly and clearly instructed Samuel.

There’s nothing quite like obedience! Parents love it, and children love it –when they become parents! And when we reach the age that “looking back” truly becomes “looking forward,” we understand more than ever the value of obedience.

“Am I being obedient to the LORD today?” is an invaluable, daily question. We are where we are in life because the LORD wills it for us. Regardless of age or health or companion-ship, there is daily work to be done for the LORD. Are we listening? Are we obeying? One day we will be called upon to give a full and complete accounting of our faithfulness in stewardship. May He ever and always keep us mindful of that!

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,

Mark 10:1-9, “Getting up, (Jesus) went from there to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan; crowds gathered around Him again, and, according to His custom, He once more began to teach them.
2 Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife.
3 And He answered and said to them, ‘What did Moses command you?’
4 They said, ‘Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY.’
5 But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
6 ‘But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.
7 “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER,
8 AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9 “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.’”

Anyone who believes that Jesus was only concerned about the ultimate home of a person’s residence after death (i.e., heaven or hell), has simply overlooked the passage above where Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ question on divorce.

Moses allowance of divorce (Deut. 24) occurred under a special circumstance. The man divorced his wife, she married another man, who died. Now, the first man was forbidden
to marry the woman again. In substance, Moses was guarding the homelife of the Nation of Israel.

Jesus is effecting guardianship of homelife in much the same way as Moses. We need to guard our homelife today, too! Children grow into adulthood embracing the same values (or lack thereof) their parents embrace. If marriage is a genuine expression of love between the parents, it will most likely be the same with their children. “More is caught than taught.” If alcoholic beverages are frequent in the home, arguments and fights will likely occur between parents. It’s all but a “given” that the children will enter into marriages that allow and produce the same.

The forces of evil are more than ‘on the alert’ today. The proliferation of alcohol exacerbates and destroys homelife. The absence of a spiritual environment literally destroys the home! And the lesson that comes to the youth in an ungodly atmosphere ultimately destroys the nation.

Reading the Bible, praying, depending on the LORD throughout the day is a spiritual diet that produces a wholesome homelife. It was true in Jesus’ day on Earth; it was true in the era of Moses. It is true today. Yet, like the lack of medicine leads to an increase in illness, so, ignoring the LORD leads only to devastation and destruction in life.

“Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it” (Psa. 37:5).

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,

Mark 9:17-24, “And one of the crowd answered Him, ‘Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;
18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.’
19 And He answered them and said, ‘O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!’
20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
21 And He asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood.
22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!’
23 And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.’
24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.’”

Having difficulty of any sort is hardly a unique experience. You and I have stood in that “difficult line” on many occasions. Yet, when others have been unable to understand and even remove the “difficult” from the situation, we generally suppose that if others cannot solve the problem, we won’t be able to do it, either.

This is precisely what occurred in the verses above. A loving, well-intentioned father had a son posssessed of a demon-spirit that troubled the boy, prohibited him from speaking, and even motivated him to take his own life. The boy’s father did what most loving fathers would have done: he brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for healing; but they were totally unable to help the boy.

When Jesus arrived upon the scene, the father gave Jesus the background of the boy’s situation and said, “If You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus responded to the father, saying, “If You can? All things are possible to him who believes” –to which the father replied, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

I trust that you will find this experience in your Bible and read the entire account. Whatever you may be currently encountering, Jesus is the answer! His answers are not always immediate. This one was not. We just have to be desperate and full of trust in Jesus! I have some lost friends for whom I have been praying for years! They are still lost. I have some sick friends for whom I have been praying daily as well. I pray daily for my family and for myself.

Some of my prayers have been answered; some are still awaiting the LORD’s reply. Just don’t give up! Your prayers may seem to lie dormant. Maybe He is waiting to see how serious you are. Just don’t give up praying! The LORD’s response is our only hope!

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,

Mark 9:1-6, “And Jesus was saying to them, ‘Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’
2 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;
3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’
6 For he did not know what to answer, for they became terrified.
7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud,
‘This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’”

Have you ever found yourself in the presence of some distinguished people, but clearly lacked the ability to contribute anything of value to their conversation? Well, I have; and what was more, I lacked the good sense to just listen and refrain from contributing anything! My feeble contribution was received for what it was worth; and I was left standing alone, embarrassed, and with no way out. In this manner only could I ever claim a relationship to Simon Peter.

Notice too that James and John, who were known as “the sons of thunder,” were entirely quiet throughout the conversation. Ultimately, the voice of the LORD broke through the heavens with exactly what was needed to be said, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”

The presence of Christ involved in that august gathering called forth that which was primary. Jesus’ instructions are always primary! Why, then, do we manufacture sub-standard stuff and inject it into His plan instead of simply saying, “LORD, what will You have us do?” Possibly, we are frightened over what we believe He will say. Yet, are we afraid of His inevitable plan. Do we believe that He will allow the plan to hurt or consume us? Do we believe His plan to somehow be inferior?

Whatever Elijah was saying to Jesus was forever interrupted. Possibly, Elijah had a plan. Nothing, however, could have overshadowed the plan the LORD Himself could set forth. Thus, whatever we think…however much we would like to be included…we simply need to “be still and know that (Jesus) is God.” Our ways are
not His ways; and His ways are always superior.

“Heavenly Father, make us willing to cease resisting
Your Plan, and to know that with You, all things are well. Amen.”

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