The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 55:6-12, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace…”

Did you ever simply get lost? You were hunting for game, but in an unfamiliar area. You had made a turn or two, while you were tracking a deer. Was this tree the one you passed a few minutes ago? It surely looks like it –but, then, all trees look somewhat alike, don’t they?

It may not have been a deer you were tracking, or a large tree and all, but what you remember the most is that you were lost! Then the friend who was with you unexpectedly called out, and suddenly, you and you weren’t lost any more!

All of that is somewhat like being spiritually lost. You know that something in life –in your life– is missing. If that’s true of you, then these verses were meant for you: “Seek the LORD…Call upon Him…” He promises that He is near and is listening for your voice. He also promises that His Word will not return to Him empty. He’s calling for you!

But, how I respond to someone I don’t really know? Just like you would if you were lost in the woods. When we’re physically lost, our emotions take over; and we do whatever we have to do to get someone’s attention– someone who knows the way out. It’s much like that with God. The only difference is that being spiritually lost has a much higher price tag. Eternity is forever.

Let’s start with the Bible. How about reading it daily? Let it speak to you.
It will tell you whether you’re lost; and it will tell you upon Whom to call. The LORD is not lost; but He’s in those woods, looking for you. And you’re in my thoughts and prayers.

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,

Hebrews 11:1-4, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.”

The 11th chapter of the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews deals exclusively with men and women who possessed faith in the LORD.

As a boy, I well remember the times that I was told, “If you do what I have asked you to do, you will be permitted to do something you would like to do.” I would then receive the privilege I had been promised. That was my initial training in what I later learned was called “faith.”

In time, I learned that faith expanded into other realms. Do a good job and receive a monetary reward. It even worked in church! Read each day the assigned Bible readings, and there is a spiritual reward for that.

Paul, the author of this Letter to the Hebrew (Jewish) people, used the word “faith” numerous times. More important than mere numbers, he listed the names of some notable persons, who had become Christians by simply believing in Jesus Christ as their LORD and Savior.

No one is automatically “saved” or “born again.” Each of us has to believe in Jesus as the Father’s Sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary. Still, it’s more than just saying, “I believe in Jesus”; it’s a commitment of your life to Him. It’s allowing Jesus to become your “Spiritual Parent” and faithfully instruct you in things He wants you to be and do.

Some things the LORD wants from us are the same things He wants from others. Some things, however, are different. Just like parents are different. What’s truly important is that the LORD is always correct; therefore, we will never go wrong obeying Him! Trust Him today!

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,

Galatians 5:13-17, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”

It is difficult –dare I say, impossible?—to hear or read a newscast without reading of a conflict? From the earliest days in the Garden of Eden, there has been conflict –conflict that has since raged throughout the whole of the human race.

The Christians of Galatia were in conflict, requiring the Apostle Paul to remind them that they were “called to freedom” and were “not to turn (their) freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.” They were to “serve one another.” In fact, they were to go further and “love (their) neighbor(s) as (themselves).”

Yet, how does that work? How are we to love those who don’t love us in return? It’s simple. Paul says, “…walk by the Spirit” and you will not end up being fleshly or selfish. Admittedly, that’s not easy to do.

Let’s say your neighbor’s house and lawns are never kept up, making where you live far less attractive. You don’t confront your neighbor; you don’t report him to the city authorities. You kindly offer to assist him in doing what needs to be done. You may not know the real reason he is not more active than he is.

The Bible is a book about change –your change and mine! When we are committed to the LORD Jesus Christ, and seek to obey His Word, the Holy Spirit will cause us to be a peace with our neighbors. If they notice the change in you– and if they comment on it, you will have opportunity to tell them about Jesus.

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,

Ecclesiastes 12:10-14, “The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.
13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

There was an old saying, scribbled on the flyleaf of my college Latin textbook:

“Latin is a dead language,
It’s as dead as it can be;
It killed the ancient Romans,
And now it’s killing me.”

Whatever the case may be, the Holy Scriptures were not originally written in English. Thus, the word “Preacher” in our text above (Qoheleth in Hebrew), literally means “collector of sentences.” I guess that fits with preachers today. At least, it does for my pastors.

More importantly still, those “words of wise men” were like goads to the hearers. Goads were sticks with sharp points used for prodding the cattle, keeping them in line. Words of the Preacher often gouge us into thinking clearly and accurately, enabling us to live and move as the LORD requires.

Have you ever been hurt by your Preacher’s goads? I have! It’s a stinging hurt! They startle and awaken the spiritually sleeping listener. Good that they do, too; because the LORD will one day bring our somber, sleepiness into judgment.

“How is that fair?” you ask. It is fair because we will stand trial concerning the Word the Preacher advocates. His warning lies in the Scriptures we have today. Failure to acquaint ourselves with His Word will doubtlessly render the “guilty” on that day. So, we had all best start now to spend time “cramming” for His finals!

So, take a word from Isaiah, the Prophet: “Seek from the book of the LORD, and read!” (Isa. 34:16) You can start today! Who knows the time or the day of His testing? It may be sooner than we think!

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,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven–
2 A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
9 a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.”

What time is it? Careful notation of the positives v. negatives in the verses above will reveal which are valued above the others. For example, verse two reads first: “A time to give birth and a time to die…” Birth is positive; death is negative. A “time to plant” is positive; “a time to uproot what is planted” is negative.

Yet, in verses three and four, the negatives are first. Notice that “kill” and “tear down” (v. 3) are negatives, while “heal” and “build up” are positives. Then, there is a reversal in vv. 4-5, where the negatives come first. To the Hebrews those things that are more important are generally mentioned first. Yet, further down, verse 8 tells us that love is superior to hate; yet, there is always a time for war and for peace.

What time is it in your life? For some readers, it is certainly time to seek
the LORD. Is this the time the LORD has for you to come to Him? to be safe and secure in His love? Believe me, dear friend, there is no better time! Just ask Him to forgive your sins and save your soul. There is no greater security than the LORD’s; and He should be first on your list.
I pray He 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