The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Deuteronomy 12:20-25, “When the LORD your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire.
21 “If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter of your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire.
22 “Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you will eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.
23 “Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.
24 “You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
25 “You shall not eat it, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you, for you will be doing what is right in the sight of the LORD.’”

These brief, six verses of Moses contain both the permissions and
the prohibitions the LORD was requiring of His people. The verses contain requirements of the moral, civil and ceremonial laws that applied to Israel.

While many of the ancient laws that applied to Israel, do not apply to the Christian faith today, a careful examination of some of the prohibitions reveal the practical value of such for us today. Think, “…be sure not to eat the blood…” (v. 23).

We know that impurities within all bodies (animal & human) carry
diseases harmful to man. Sometimes moral and civil laws clash.
Civil law, for instance, concerns matters of life with respect of personal conduct–how we live or propose to live.

Moral law largely concerns matters more focused on what we believe, from where that belief derives, and how we affiliate with the LORD and with others through daily living.

The “clash” often comes when we feel we have the “right” to do or
say something that conflicts with civil law. For example, we all have the “right” under the law to purchase and own a firearm. The rationale for ownership (the right), however, must be based upon the perception of (moral) need.

Moses was well acquainted with the attitudes and actions of his
people. After all, he ultimately accumulated 40 years as their leader. While it is true that we now live under “grace,” it is also true
that we continue to live under some “law.” The right and wrong of how we live is rooted within the Scriptures. Prohibition and permission still remain viable. If we trust and live for Jesus Christ we will not need to worry about any heavenly arrests.

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,

Genesis 27:2, Isaac did “not know the day of (his own) death.”
Genesis 28:16, Jacob awoke from sleep and said, ”Surely the
LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”
Exodus 1:8, “…a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know
Joseph.”
Exodus 5:2, Egypt’s Pharaoh said, “I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”
Exodus 34:29, “Moses “did not know that the skin of his face shone
because of his speaking with Him.”

There are over 270 verses in both the Old and New Testaments that contain the words “not know.” None of the verses relate to the LORD, as He knows everything –even prior to its happening. Thus, when I learned how many “don’t knows” there were in Scripture, I was no longer embarrassed to say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know the answer to that.” On certain occasions, I’ve added, “but I will be happy to research it and get back to you.”

But why am I saying all of this? It’s because one of the foremost
“reasons” believers don’t witness is because they’re afraid they’ll
be asked something they “don’t know.” And to “not know” means
embarrassment. Not at all!

No individual knows everything, whether he knows it or not. The
discovery of something you don’t know provides the incentive to
diligently seek the answer. You can ask someone you think might
know; seek the answer in a reliable book; or ask someone who’s
responsible to know. Of course, the answer to spiritual questions are to be found in the Bible.

Just don’t despair. There’s an answer to every sincere question that the LORD wants us to know. Spiritual answers are found in His Spiritual Book, the Bible! Keep reading! Many of the questions
come to mind as we read and do so prayerfully. I will be praying for you; you pray for me, please.

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 107:17-24, “Fools, because of their rebellious way, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
18 Their soul abhorred all kinds of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses.
20 He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!
22 Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His works with joyful singing.
23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.”

Matthew 8:24-27, “And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!’
26 He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
27 The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’”

The verses above from the Old and New Testaments possess a clear semblance of “togetherness.” We could hardly find any that are more closely associated than the two above. What the Old Testament says is complemented by what the New Testament says. Such gives sure and certain evidence of the unity of Scripture!

The psalmist speaks of affliction so severe that no selection of food
could heal the afflicted. They were, in fact, nearing the doors of death. Yet, their cries reached the ears of God and He healed all of them!

Subsequently, they were enjoined to “give thanks to the LORD” through “sacrifices of thanksgiving.” Such was for His lovingkind-ness and the wonders of His healing power! Notice, too, that those delivered by the miracle of the LORD’s touch were encouraged to praise Him in the joy of singing and telling others of His good works!

Interestingly, too, is how all of this is demonstrated through us!
The disciples had forgotten the LORD’s previous attention to their needs when the storms began to rage. In fear, they cried out, “LORD, save us!” And He did!

Then, we forget that He saved us from the storm, and we cry out to Him again for help. He helps us, then we forget and fall into fear at the next sign of trouble. It just goes over and over again. When will
we learn?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We may never know that Christ is all we need
until He becomes all that we have.”
– Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Exodus 15:1-8, “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said,
‘I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted;
The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
2 ‘The LORD is my strength and song,
‘And He has become my salvation;
‘This is my God, and I will praise Him;
‘My father’s God, and I will extol Him.
3 “The LORD is a warrior;
The LORD is His name.
4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
He has cast into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 “The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a
stone.
6 “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power,
Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
7 “And in the greatness of Your excellence;
You overthrow those who rise up against You;
You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as
chaff.
8 “At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,
The flowing waters stood up like a heap;
The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.’”

Most of you, who will read the lines above, will immediately
recognize the passage as the historical reference of the Egyptian
army being drowned in the Red Sea, as they endeavored to over-
come the Children of Israel, who were escaping in their effort to
reach the Promised Land.

All praise, however, for the Israelites’ safety goes to the LORD, by
Whose direction and protection they reached the other side. It is
much the same with us today. As a small boy, I jerked loose from my mother’s hand and dashed into the face of an on-coming car.
Miraculously, the Hand of the LORD was my deliverence!

How many of us can recount near-disasterous experiences that
could have snuffed out our lives, except that the LORD’s Hand
reached out and delivered us?

If calculations are near-to-correct, the Titan is near to the end of its oxygen supply; and five persons are aboard. I am praying that they will be successfully rescued and whether Christians or not, they will give praise to the LORD for their lives. How many rescues the
LORD has accomplished is not to be known until we meet Him. In
the meantime, we can pray and praise! “He does all things well.”

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,

Joel 1:13-16, “Gird yourselves with sackcloth and lament, O priests; Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth O ministers of my God, For the grain offering and the drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.
14 Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly; gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
15 Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.
16 Has not food been cut off before our eyes, Gladness and joy from the house of our God?”

We looked into Joel some weeks ago; still, the Word of God never changes. Circumstances that affect our human lives do change.
As of this writing, an underwater miniature submarine is lost in the
North Atlantic somewhat near to where the great British luxury liner Titanic sank back in 1912. Reports are that the little sub has only sufficient oxygen onboard to last until mid-day Thursday.

Needless to say, those onboard (including a young boy) had not the slightest thought of danger when they boarded the sub. They
were going to view the ruins of the Titanic. Now, the Coast Guard units from several nations search furiously for them!

We never know what a day may bring forth. It was the same with the prophet Joel. “What the gnawing locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; and what the swarming locust has left, the creeping locust has eaten; and what the creeping locust has left, the stripping locust has eaten (Joel 1:4). Will anyone survive this
devastation?

My prayer has been that those underwater sightseekers will be saved –but that they will realize that life is more than excitement; more than the thousands of dollars it costs to view an 111-year-old
ruin that took 1500 lives! Life is delicate; it’s a gift from the LORD!
Its only assurance lies in its yieldedness to Him who gave it. Have
your yielded your life to Him? Death exists above the waves, too.

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