The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 16:13-22, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
15 Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were
the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to the saints),
16 that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the
work and labors.
17 I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because
they have supplied what was lacking on your part.
18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore. acknowledge such men.
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord,
with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The greeting is in my own hand– Paul.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha.”

My maternal grandmother once told me that if she failed as a child to eat the food
set before her at mealtime, her mother would put her plate with the uneaten food
on a shelf. When the next mealtime came, that cold, uneaten food was placed
before her. She thus learned to value food.

While I am certain that food was valued in centuries prior to our own, Paul valued
spiritual companions highly above food. Simultaneously, he cited the abilities of
each. The LORD has given to each of His children abilities that merge with those
of others, making His entire enterprise worthwhile.

When I was quite young, playing with my cousins took precedent over food. We
had so much fun, that food was simply not in our thinking. Paul was like that. Doing
what the LORD directed him to do was his most vital undertaking. People were important to Paul. Those who were believers needed to be encouraged in the faith. Those who had yet to trust in Jesus as their LORD and Savior needed to be
reached with the Gospel.

Think of it like this: you are the vital interest of the LORD God! If you’ve never
been saved, He is vitally interested in you! If you have been saved, He is vitally
interested in developing you as a disciple; then He will enable you out to witness
to others.

Where are you in your relationship with the LORD? Do you know Him? If you do,
He has a purpose for you. If you don’t know Him, He still loves you and wants you
to be one of His children. My prayer is that you will quickly find your place with Him.
Your only regret will be that you waited so long.

Maranatha,

(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