The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezra 9:5-7, “But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God;
6 and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.”
7 “Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.”

I was all wrapped up in my Kahuna Chair, when my phone went off! It was the Police
Dispatch saying my house alarm had discharged. “Is everything alright?” she asked.
Yes, everything was alright. I thanked her and restarted my chair.

Then came a knock –a knuckles-to-door kind of knock. It was a Police Officer, asking
again if everything was alright. Yes, again I assurred him that everything was fine.
He was satisfied. “Just checking,” he said.

Later I thought, “What do you do when things are not right?” Ezra knew what to do. He fell on his knees before God; and, with shame and embarrassment for the sins of his people, he stretched out his hands to the LORD and cried out in a mixture of confession and praise.

“O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You…”

If we search our lives as diligently as Ezra searched the lives of his people, we will do
no less than bowing humbly before the LORD, confessing our sins, and praising Him for “keeping check” on us and what we do and don’t do.

How long has it been since you truly examined your life, your conversations, your thoughts? Are they acceptable to Him? Don’t be surprised if there’s a knock at your door. Just be sure you can say, “Everything’s alright, LORD. Thanks for checking up on me.”

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