The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 22:1-10, “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,
5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.
6 “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,
7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
8 “And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
10 “And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’”

What a charge given to a young man! His business was persecution, but at this moment he is the persecuted! The young man was Jewish, born in Tarsus and a superior graduate of the schools that existed there.

He was Jewish, and as such, he had been well-trained in the religion of the Jews –that is, as well as the university where he lived could train him. And as in keeping with the Jewish tradition, the young man was trained in the business of tent-making (Acts 18:3)!

We are not told how he got into the business of persecuting
Christian believers, but he was chief at the stoning of Stephen.
While we cringe at the thought of Stephen’s untimely death and
the manner of it, his attitude and dying words (“Lord, lay not this
sin to their charge.”) had a powerful effect on young Saul (Paul).

I’ve never thought it through completely, but that may account for my love for Jewish people. They are blunt and harsh sometimes,
but that appeals to me and I give it right back! I’m never savage,
just meeting “push” with “shove.” What’s more, they love it!

The LORD is not through with His people. It’s just that His people
have expanded well beyond the Jews! I’m not Jewish, yet I marvel at all He has done for and with my life!

If you’ve not trusted Him, you’re missing life’s greatest blessing! You know the tough part? It’s admitting that you’re a sinner and need Him. You may be living under the thought that you will “check in” with him just before you “check out.” But “check-out time” may be closer than you think! There’s nothing like being ready!

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