The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 4:27-31, “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence,
30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

Recently, I witnessed the testimony of two young Iranian women, who had suffered
enormously at the hands of their own countrymen because they dared to speak out on behalf of the name of their Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ.

Their testimony and faithful stand for Jesus Christ was a virtual blueprint of early Christians in the Book of Acts! As I mused upon the courage of these girls, I was
reminded of the question:

“If you or I were arrested for being a Christian,
would there be enough evidence to convict us?”

Time and again these faithful ladies were ordered to cease and desist in their witness of their Christian faith. “Iran,” they were told, “is an Islamic nation!” And time and again they simply replied, “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

We Christians, who live somewhat luxuriously in a free speech nation, have no idea
what believers in non-Christian nations are forced to endure. If we were a bit more outspoken regarding our faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, we would come to understand the trials and tribulations of believers elsewhere in our world.

Perhaps we would do well to recognize the faithfulness of our Jewish friends. No, they are not committed to Jesus Christ; but under great pressure, they are standing firmly for
Judaism! May God help us to be faithful as true Christian believers!

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