The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Obadiah 1:15-17, “For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done,
it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
16 “Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, all the nations will drink continually. They
will drink and swallow and become as if they had never existed.
17 “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house of
Jacob will possess their possessions.”

If you’ve read the Old Testament, you will undoubtedly have read the Book of Obadiah. It’s the smallest of the Old Testament books and reminds us historically of the conflict between Jacob
and Esau back in the Book of Genesis. The birthright from Isaac was to have gone to the eldest son, Jacob. But, Esau, grasped the opportunity to fool his father, Isaac, into thinking he was
Jacob.

Thus, Esau became a schemer, a thief! And the nation he fathered pestered the nation of Israel.

The descendants of Easu were known as Edomites; the descendants of Jacob were known as Israelites. In the Book of Obadiah, the LORD pledges that those who have defrauded others will
suffer at the hand of the LORD.

There is a saying that fits Esau and the Edomites: “You can’t do wrong and get by!” Furthermore, that is as true of nations as it is of individuals everywhere. There is a not-so-subtle message here
to us, too. We are to stand with Israel! Historically, they are the LORD’s “chosen people.” We may
not agree with everything Israel does in today’s world. We surely don’t agree with everything our leaders do, either. But, Israel is the LORD’s chosen people, and He is certain to “bring down”
those who go against His own.

Pray earnestly for Israel. Many Jews have turned in faith to Jesus Christ! He is and will be glorified in His people. And as we stand with them, He is glorified in us, too.

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,

Seeking answers to some questions regarding prayer

1.To Whom and for whom shall we pray?

Genesis 20:7a, “Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is
a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live…”

The verse immediately above is the Bible’s first mention of prayer. What happened was all Abraham’s fault. His wife was his sister; however, Abraham designed his response to King Abimelech’s question, so as to hide the true fact that Sarah was his wife, as well. Yet, before Abraham revealed it, God revealed it to Abimelech that he was not to touch her sexually, for she was already married.

2.For what or for whom should we pray?

(1)Numbers 11:1-2, “Now the people became like those
who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD;
and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled,
and the fire of the LORD burned among them and
consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. The
people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed
to the LORD and the fire died out.”

(2)Exodus 33:13, “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found
favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know
You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too,
that this nation is Your people.”

3.How should we pray?

1 Thessalonians 5:17, “…pray without ceasing…”

Certainly, the Scriptures do not mean that we are on our knees,
every hour of every day (although I doubt that needs not be said).
It means that prayer for a specific burden should be with us and
concern us until the day it is fulfilled.

Take, for instance, that a friend or loved one is in hospital. The
LORD does not expect us to relinquish the responsibilities we
have elsewhere and stay at the hospital praying. We can pray
as we journey to-and-from the hospital…as we attend to those
responsibilities we have elswhere. Still, prayer is on our mind
and heart.

There is one thing I know with certainty: none of us pray as often as we should!
Close the night in prayer, and open the day with prayer. You will experience a
difference in your life. God bless you abundantly!

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,

Obadiah 1:15-18,”For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
16 “Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and swallow and become as if they had never existed.
17 “But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions.
18 “Then the house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, so that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken.”

There is a small chorus we kids used to sing in church. We understood what it meant, but I
seriously doubt that we understood its full impact or how it might someday impact our lives.
It went,
Be careful little feet where you go;
Be careful little feet where you go;
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love;
So, be careful little feet where you go.

The song involved being careful little eyes…little hands…little ears, et al.

We understood everything encased in the song; however, I’m certain we never understood
the full implication of its meaning. At least, I’m sure I didn’t!

But I do now!! Furthermore, I now understand what Obadiah understood then. It’s a shame
that we have to live so long before we grasp the in-depth meaning of things and avoid them!

Every day we stand at some crossroad. Do we just frivolously go right or left? Or do we weigh
the possibilities along with what we understand to be the certainties? How we live is the focused
teaching of the verses above. Certainly, there’s more to the verses than we’re covering here!

God’s love for us prompted His giving us His Son, Jesus. Jesus gave His Life for us –that we
might have and enjoy life here and with Him throughout Eternity. Today’s activities, whether with our hands, eyes, feet –whatever!—have a direct effect upon our lived today, tomorrow, and where we spend Eternity. Your todays determine your tomorrows. Jesus is our only hope.
Be careful with your life and whom you trust!

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,

Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

It is virtually impossible to avoid an encounter with a liar in today’s environment. There was a
time when young people were taught that lying about anything was a serious offense. Yet, many youths today have parents who lie –some, even to each other—making it virtually impossible to teach the children that lying is totally unacceptable in all situations.

Somewhere in my youthful days, I learned that people who will lie will do anything that’s wrong.
Perhaps that is because they have done wrong and are lying in the effort to escape the punishment. Some lies are so preposterous that no one in their right mind would ever believe them. The key to understanding whether something is genuinely true comes by exposing it to true light.

Our passage above indicates that the dead, both “the great and the small” (meaning the prominent in this earthly life and the insignificant), will be brought to justice before the LORD. The passage also speaks to two books. One Book, we understand to contain the deeds of all, who stand before the LORD, while the other Book –the Book of Life– contains the names of those who have accepted the LORD Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior, the born-again believers in Christ Jesus.

That “the sea gave up her dead,” indicates those who perished at sea. Their dead bodies were
undoubtedly devoured by hungry sea creatures. Yet, they feasted only on the corpses they discovered in the sea. God had not lost track of their spirits or spiritual conditions prior to their deaths. They will not escape God’s Judgment.

The only true and sure escape from God’s Judgment is to confess sins while we are alive and able to do so. God already knows every sin you and I have committed over the entire span of
our lifetimes. He even knows who will and who will not accept His Son Jesus as their Savior.
Nevertheless, He does not consign anyone to Heaven or to Hell without the opportunity for them to confess and believe.

Thus, we need to seriously confess our sins and accept the LORD Jesus Christ as our Savior. Have you confessed your sins to Him? Have you believed upon Him as the Father’s Supreme
Sacrifice for your sin? It’s far more than attending or even belonging to a church of any faith.
The LORD accepts nothing but faith and trust in His Son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sin.

Why not accept Him today? Just pray this simple prayer and mean it! You’ll then understand the
difference.

“Dear LORD Jesus, I confess to being a sinner. Your Word says that You will save
those who come to You confessing their sins. Please forgive me for all the things
I have done that have not been pleasing and acceptable to You. I know Your Son
Jesus died on the Cross for me. He died to save me from sin. I am grateful for Your
love and His sacrifice. Please forgive me and accept me as one of Your children. In
Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”

When you have prayed and received Christ as your LORD, I would love to hear from you!

And to those of you who are already saved, thank you for praying for those who are not,
and remember that many have yet to trust Him. Pray and witness as time gets shorter.
God bless you abundantly!

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 15:1-6, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
2 Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

How well I remember “Sugar Kane!” She was an elderly member of our church and taught us kids what being a Christian was all about. One day in class, she commenced by saying, “Now today, we’re all going to do just as we please.” Wow! There were a lot of us who were thinking what a great day this was going to be! (Yes, I was one of those…)

But, those words had not completed her thought. “Now today, we’re all going to do just as we please, so long as we please to do right.” Gurrr, we all thought. Why did she go and mess things up when we were headed for a really good time? Yes, we knew why. In a sense, she was speaking of the weaknesses of those of us who were wanting only to please ourselves.

The Apostle Paul points out that even Christ Jesus “did not please Himself.” As He went went to the Cross, He was pleasing His Father. How often do we undertake things to please other people? How are we to know what pleases others? or what pleases God?

The Apostle Paul clearly indicates that the Scriptures (Paul’s “Scriptures” were the books of the Old Testament) were “written for our insturction” and for the encouragement of others. What kind of encouragement? Encouragement to agree with others “according to Christ Jesus” (vv. 5-6).

Sometimes in team sports there are those “hot shots,” who try to impress others with
their personal athletic ability, but end up causing the team to lose the game. Sugar Kane knew the ultiment cost if we didn’t all work together. It’s just a factor of life. That’s why Christ wants us to work together with others. Is that what you are doing? Are you
sharing Jesus with others? Are you praying for others? Christianity is more than a sport; but together we will do as He pleases: working together and sharing Him with others. Still, the time is short.

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