The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 6:16-23, “There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.
20 My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
21 Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life.”

Why would Solomon, author of the words above, speak so solemnly, yet forthrightly, to his sons? Could it be that he had experienced some or all of those things of which He warns them, and knew the pitfalls that lay ahead? Undoubtedly, he had experienced them all.

Strangely enough, youths are often warned by their parents. Yet, how would their parents know to warn them of such things? Youths are so focused on things of their delight, that they often have no time to give to thoughts of their parents’ youthful days.

Both the youth and the parents have serious responsibilities. If the proper
love and concern exists between them, trust will work in both directions, the vicissitudes of life will be mutually beneficial.

Such relationships, however, are simply not acquired in the moment of need. Mutual loving trust must be developed over a lifetime. A parent gains
the respect of a child over years of loving fellowship. Now, as the children move into adulthood, they assume the responsibilities of practical teachers.
Their children will become what their parents have taught them.

Parents who have loved and committed their lives to Jesus Christ, will mirror and teach His Life to their children. Thus, the values cited by Solomon in the
verses above, will demonstrate their value in the generations that follow.

Where are you in the matter of teaching others? Often, more is caught than taught. Thus, the influence of the true Christ-like believer never dies. Is that
the value of your life? I most heartily trust that it is!

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 4:1-9, “Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding,
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my instruction.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,
4 Then he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live;
5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.’
6 “Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 “The beginning of wisdom is: acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8 “Prize her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you, if you embrace her.
9 “She will place on your head a garland of grace; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

If ever there were a sound signal of wisdom, it lies in the verses above. Be
attentive, and grasp understanding! It comes from your father. Oh, if parents
were only to listen! Many parents possess the will to instruct their children, but lack instruction by their own parents! Yet, for those who were so instructed, may they never forsake their instruction.

If wisdom is properly and methodically embraced, it will never leave or forsake
the one who has grasped it. Yet, wisdom is seldom if ever transmitted through
the birth canal. It is taught by observation and by clear, verbal instruction: parent to child. It beautifies the one who treasures it. “Acquire wisdom! Acquire
understanding!” says the Immortal Word of God! There is no better instruction!

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 4:10-18, “Hear, my son, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many.
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; and they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”

It takes one who has walked in the way of wisdom to properly instruct those who have not. Instruction, however, is more than verbal; it is observable, daily modeling of that which is right. Wisdom needs careful observation and skillful thought. Trust in one’s instructor is invaluable!

One extremely important instruction concerns walking only in “upright paths.” For every righteous path there are numerous unrighteous paths. Such paths look intriguing at first, but they soon reveal themselves to be weak and opposite of the trusted instruction. Don’t allow yourself to be misled. You have been warned of wickedness. It looks lovely only until you have walked a few miles and tasted it offerings.

Those who willingly walk in unrighteous pathways ultimately become like those who “eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.” The path of righteousness is illumined, so as to clearly show travelers the way. There is no stumbling in the light! It shines brightly so travelers can avoid unrighteous pitfalls that produce unrighteous lives and lead to death.

The way of wisdom is the pathway of rest. Choose wisdom! Follow good instruction! The Light of the LORD reveals His wisdom and avoids our stumbling
along the way.

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:5-13, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.”

Let me pose a question that you have undoubtedly encountered in your life. You
have hopefully been taught that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. There is nothing He does not know and nothing He cannot accomplish, so long as it corresponds to His divine will.

All of us have at times been faced with a serious problem and have earnestly prayed for the LORD for an answer we did not receive. The LORD was simply silent on the issue. There was no answer from God! What should we do?

Let me suggest that first of all we should never accuse or blame the LORD for not replying. If the LORD does not respond to our prayers, it just may be that we have other unconfessed sin in our lives. Ask Him first to forgive that sin. Asking forgiveness for a sin we enjoy must be an honest request. He knows whether it is and so do we.

Secondly, we need to trust Him for the forgiveness for which we ask. The first word in this letter is the word “trust.” The LORD knows more than we know. He know how sincere we are in our requests. Pray repentantly, earnestly, and sincerely. He may test us as to just how sincere we truly are.

Finally, keep on trusting! Don’t give up believing in the LORD! All sin (great or
small) is His to forgive. Unkind things we have said or done to others is sin. Left
alone without forgiveness will only increase our burden.

Our LORD loathes our sin, but loves to forgive us. Remember the old song that
admonished us to “Take it to the LORD in prayer”? “If we trust and never doubt, He will surely bring you out. Take your burden to the LORD and leave it there.”

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

Dear Grands,

Romans 8:6-13, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–
13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

Throughout all of Scripture, there is a constant battle between the Spirit and the flesh! It commences early in life and continues throughout our human existence. There is so much to see and so much to hear, that the battle rages almost without notice. Yet, it is there!

James says (4:17), “…that which is good became a cause of death for me…It was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good…”

Satan is clever. No doubt about it! He seeks to turn that which is good into that which dishonors the LORD. Yet, in the ultimate outcome, and “because the Spirit “…dwells in you…” we are under obligation…to live according to “the Spirit” –not according to the flesh! It is the flesh that takes us down; it is the Spirit who gives us life –Christ’s life!

The flesh can be defeated! Yet, its defeat comes only when we elect to focus upon the LORD and ignore the flesh. Simon Peter knew the difference when he said,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born
again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable
and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are protected by the power of God through faith for a
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

Solomon said, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths
straight” (Prov. 3:5-6).

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