The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:1-10, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep
seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed
with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the
sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and
abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil
practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge
according to the image of the One who created him…”

Were you ever asked a question regarding a complicated situation? If so,
you will be excited to know that neither the question nor the answer to it
are at all complicated.

The Apostle Paul believes that the Colossians to whom he is writing, have
indeed been born again in Christ Jesus. Yet, the New Birth in Christ is not
entirely what it’s all about. I have a great-grandson, who was born on my
birthday! Yet, there’s far more to him than simply being born. He is maturing
as his family desires. And so it is with Paul and the Colossians.

Maturing into adulthood is spiritual, just as it’s physical and mental. When
we come to know Christ through the new birth, we want to know more of
Him and be more like Him. Furthermore, that’s precisely what He wants, too!
But, how do we do that?

First, we keep our eyes on Jesus and all things spiritual. That includes the
people with whom we associate, the things we watch and/or read –and the
list goes on. More specifically, it includes the BIBLE! No doctor learns about
medicines by playing with dogs in his back yard! He reads books about
medicine! He talks with other doctors. He asks them questions. His focus is
on one thing: learning about the skill he wants to sharpen. The Bible contains
everything we need to be the kind of Christians the LORD wants us to be!

But, what about someone who doesn’t know Jesus? How does he learn about
Him? He learns in the same way others have learned: he first trusts Jesus to
be his Savior and Lord. Salvation is more than just attending church or even
more than just reading the Bible. It’s giving your heart and life to Jesus Christ.
After that, you “feed” on the Scriptures and things spiritual in nature.

Christianity is more than going to church –any church! Of course, it involves
that, once you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. But just
going to church or even joining a church does not make you a Christian.
Becoming a Christian is giving your life totally and completely to God! Then,
You go to church where Christ is preached and you learn more and more of
Him.

We like to think of our children and grandchildren looking like us, don’t we?
Well, Christ Jesus wants us to look like Him! Our kids and grands look like
us because they were born in our families! When we are born-again in
Christ, we begin to look like Him! Do you look like Jesus? Do I? We can,
you know.

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