The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 5:16-20, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
18 “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19 “Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

There is an old Johnny Mercer – Pied Pipers’ song that contained the following lyrics:

Accentuate the positive;
Eliminate the negative;
Latch on to the affirmative;
And don’t mess with Mister In Between.

I haven’t heard those lyrics for years or the music that enveloped them. Yet, as I thought
of the Matthew passage above, that old song came to mind. Verses 16 and 17 are positives. We are to let our light shine – not that others might glorify us, but that they might glorify our LORD Jesus Christ. Is He being glorified by your demeanor? by your language? by your
associations?

There is coming a day (vs. 18) when all that the LORD has constructed will be destroyed (eliminated). The heavens and the earth and all that is in them will be divinely destroyed; and in their place everything will be newly constructed.

The Commandments of the LORD are also to be obeyed! When we ignore or discard the LORD’s teachings, by default, we encourage others to ignore them, too. We learn, then we teach –sometimes intentionally, sometimes by default. Nevertheless, it is teaching, and we will be held accountable for ourselves and for others.

The scribes and the Pharisees taught people; and they are to be held accountable for their teachings. What we possess from the LORD and from His Word far surpasses what the scribes and Pharisees taught. Yet, if we neglect to teach what the LORD taught us, we are sure to be held accountable!

Get into the Word! Read and study it daily! Share it and its principles with others. Reach out and make a difference in someone else’s life. That brings glory to our LORD Jesus!

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