The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 1:1-8, “Paul, a called apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God, which was given you in Christ Jesus,
5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Have you ever wished you could just turn back the calendar and start all over again? So many things you missed… so many people you would have liked to have called
“friends.” Well, in some things, that might not be bad. In others, it would likey best be
left alone.

Do you remember Sosthenes? His name is mentioned but twice in Scripture. In
Acts 18, he is undoubtedly “the leader of the synagogue,” the one who cared nothing
for the beating that was administered to the Apostle Paul. You would not have wanted
to know Sosthenes then.

On the other hand in our passage above, Sosthenes was recognized as a brother in
Christ by none other than the Apostle Paul himself. At that point in time, Sosthenes
is called “our brother,” meaning “our spiritual brother in Christ.” What a transformation!!
The “grace” of God had ministered peace to Sosthenes. He was now a spiritual brother
to the one whose beating he had previously ignored.

Spiritual transformation made a difference! It still does! Those we once despized, we
now abundantly love! Those we once distrusted, we now trust and honestly embrace
as “brothers” in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul had administered a sufficiency of punishment to the Christians. Now,
he was standing on “the other side of the fence.” He had learned to love! And love was
the missing link in his life.

Is there a “missing link” in your life? It just could be, if you are doubting that members
of Hamas can change. You did! Remember? Yes, they can, too! It takes but a moment
of time. Just say, “Yes!” to the LORD, who longs to “change” you into His likeness.
When you surrender to Him, you will experience a spiritual transformation in your life!
You won’t remain quiet; but you will surely remain changed!

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