The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

II Corinthians 11:21-28, “To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold– I speak in foolishness– I am just as bold myself.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ?– I speak as if insane– I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

Have you never been in the company of some who insisted that in
certain (if not all) situations, they had been through trials and tribulations virtually unknown to others for centuries? Some liars are
so steeped in the muck of their own stories that they simply cannot
believe them to be untrue!

Such was the situation of Paul’s true encounters. He allows, however, that he has not escaped all of the rigors of anti-Christian persecution. Yet, he is putting down the bragerts by citing true situa-tions from his own experience. Undoubtedly, you’ve faced similar situations like that yourself.

Simply stated, however, it is not easy to be a Christian! Especially is that so, when the anti-Christian forces surround the true believers and insist that the believers’ persecution was very little when compared with their own.

Paul is not seeking sympathy for all he has incurred. He is endeavor-ing to persuade them that the true witness’ life can be hard – very hard.

While the word “missionary” is generally reserved for those who live in foreign countries and carry the Gospel to the native population, in a broader sense, we are all missionaries, if we will allow it. When I
read the incredible situations some missionaries have encountered, I realize that we who have been saved are, in fact, missionaries ourselves. We simply must be prepared to share Jesus Christ with them. Nobody said it was easy. Crosses are always hard to bear.

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