The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:1-11, “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker,
2 and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 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.”

In one of the historical books I am currently reading, author H. E. Dana writes, “Rule with the Romans; worship with the Jews; think with the Greeks.” Philemon was a wealthy man who resided in Colosse. The wealthy in those days owned a large number of slaves. He was also a prominent member of the local group of Christians, who formed the Church in Colosse.

Onesimus, one of Philemon’s slaves, had escaped from his owner, found his way to Paul in Rome, and became a true believer in Jesus Christ. The LORD only knows the responsibilities Onesimus then undertook to assist Paul in his imprisonment. Paul him would have loved to have retained him; yet, he knew that Onesimus belonged to Philemon and needed to return.

Psychology owned no textbooks in those days; yet, Paul undertook to utilize that skill in his response to Philemon. “Receive him as you would receive me,” Paul said. Immediately thereafter, he reminded Philemon of how much he (Paul) had done for him (Philemon) when he was with him in Colosse. We’re not told what Paul did, but Philemon understood the meaning and treated thereby treated Onesimus as a brother rather than as a run-away slave.

We ought never to do things for others just in order to be able to hold them accountable to us. We need always to do things out of a sincere and loving heart, serving the LORD.. At the time Paul helped Philemon, he had no idea that Onesimus would one day run away. We ought always to treat others in the pure love of Christ.

My guess is that you and I both have done some good things for others without thinking of their owing or repaying us. We don’t know the trials others are encountering. True Christian Love seeks nothing but to honor and glorify the LORD Jesus Christ. Sometimes, just a sweet smile cheers the heart of someone who desperately needs it.

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 3:12-17, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Have you ever wondered why more people live ungodly lives rather than godly ones? Do you reckon part of it could be because of persecution? Even in school, and at the earliest grade levels, there are children who want to hurt others because they have choosen not to do what the others want them to do.

It’s the same in the adult world. Some won’t like you because you cheer for a team they don’t like! Or you’re not following the current “dress code,” established by the “leaders of the pact.” You don’t enjoy their music, their films, they entire lifestyle!

In Paul’s day, and in many places today, Christians are disliked because of the doctrines they embrace. Then, it progresses ultimately to hatred and physical persecution –simply because you don’t believe what they believe! It’s precisely at this point, you learn whether you’re beliefs really matter. Hopefully, they do!

Don’t surrender the valuable for the valuless! Don’t allow the faith of your childhood to be destroyed by those who have no true faith of their own! As a child you were taught the Scriptures! Stay the course! It is the Scriptures that gave you the wisdom to trust Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior. Those Scriptures have not changed! Don’t allow anyone or anything to sever you from the Word of God.

Our world is in deep trouble! We’re calling wrong right, turning life itself on its head! From childhood you
learned the “sacred writings” that gave “you the wisdom that leads to salvation.” It’s all in Christ Jesus!
Don’t give up now! Stay in the Word of God. Keep faith in Jesus Christ. There is a better Day 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 3:10-15, “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

How well do you know the Holy Scriptures? Do you know how many “testaments” there are? Do you know how many “books” each testament contains? Are you able to discern the writing of Paul from, let us say, that of Solomon? Do you know the difference between the fine points of theology? Let us all be careful not to brag too loudly about what we know–or what we think we know.

Word this week from Australia tells of the killing of two Queensland police officers that has become a pretext for an attack on premillennial teaching and the branding of it as incitive of terrorism. TV Channel 9 reports, “What we’ve been able to glean from (the) information is that Gareth Nathaniel and Stacy Train (Train family members) subscribe to what we would call a broad Christian fundamentalist belief system known as premillennialism.”

According to this report, advice was received from Mr. Josh Roose, an associate professor of politics and so-called expert on far right and religious extremism at Deakin University. Roose said the two shooters would have believed the world was “corrupt” and fast imploding. He is reported as saying, “…premillennialism is a Christian belief that in effect, the world is so corrupt, so evil , so beyond repair that at some point, in the near future, we’re facing the implosion of the world effectively…an apocalyptic event and that Jesus will return to Earth.”

Roose is truly accurate when he speaks about the world being corrupt and Jesus returning, but his attempt to link premillennial Christians with terrorism belies a gross ignorance of both history and Scripture. He describes premillennialism as “poorly understood and really, there’s not a lot known about to what extent (premillennialists) are present.”

Yes, Mr. Roose, we premillennialists are here, and we do advocate the return of our
LORD Jesus Christ. We’re not experts on everything; but, we do believe the Bible and that salvation resides only in our LORD Jesus Christ. We will pray for you, for the families of the Queensland police officers, who were killed, and for those who killed them. We all need Jesus! And we need to be ready for His soon Return.

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 3:11-18, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.”

The word “discipline” has five separate meanings, but basically it is “an activity, exercise or regimen that develops or improves a skill or training.” None of those definitions fit what I understood the word to mean when I was a kid. To me it meant punishment! (Don’t snicker! Truth be told, punishment is what it meant for you, also.)
I also learned that to run away from punishment only meant adding fuel to the fire.

But “discipline” is much more than torrid punishments! Discipline is also activity that
develops skills that produce learning. No one learns to play the piano without discipline. The same is true of singing, painting, typing, hunting, fishing –just about anything you can name. And no one starts out as an “expert”! In fact, those not so
talented as you will praise you for having exerted the discipline that made you what
you are.

After we’ve learned to obey verses 11 and 12 above, we inherit the richer blessings noted in verses 13 through 17. They number seven and include understanding, long life, wisdom, riches, honor, a pleasant attitude, and peace.

What kind of neighbor do you want? Oh? Well, that’s exactly the kind of neighbor your neighbor wants, too! Someone has put it so well: “We will never know peace until the
Prince of Peace rules in our hearts!” Is He in yours? Do you know Him? You can, you
know. Just confess your sins to Jesus Christ in prayer, and believe and trust Him to have forgiven you. How will you know? He will let you know. That’s part of the “trust.”

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 23:17-24, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always.
18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe one with rags.
22 Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she
is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who sires a wise son will
be glad in him.”

Solomon often acts as a human parent when he gives sound advice, as in these verses. It is true that sinners often parade in acquisitions that some believers could never afford. Yet, sinners often have no hope beyond the day. We believers look in hope well beyond the day.

I thank the LORD for the parents He gave me. They were not wealthy, but they were frugal and recognized that everything they possessed had come as a blessing from Almighty God!

My sister and I were taught the principles advocated in the Bible. Moreover, we witnessed those principles being lived out in the lives of our parents and grand-parents. We were not always fully informed why certain things were forbidden, or why some things were required. Yet, in time, we learned them, and passed them on to our own children.

Always tell the truth. Always be honesty, especially when replying to a question from someone in authority. We learned quickly that telling the truth did not require a superficial remembrance of things.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths
straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away
from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones
(Prov. 3:5-8).

May God bless you richly, as you trust and follow Him!

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