The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

These short verses at the commencement of the Gospel of John give us insight into things curious to us. Almost all small children, who are introduced to Jesus Christ, want to know more and more about Him.

John calls Jesus “the Word” and informs us that He is closely associated with God. Later, and as our children grow, we inform them that Jesus is God’s Son. Later still, we inform them that Jesus and God are One.

Jesus activates the will of His Father. He created the universe, including the sun, moon, stars and all minute, heavenly particles that scientists ultimately have and will discover. With supreme power, the Creator created everything!

Light and darkness were created; yet Light was superior of the two. Not only did Light supersede darkness, the darkness did not overtake or understand the Light. The increase of any amount of light overcomes darkness. But, no increase of darkness overcomes the light; nor does the darkness know why.

The Greek word ??????????? katalambano means both “overtakes” and “understands.” Thus, what can be said of light and darkness, can be said of Christ and Satan. Does Christ know everything that is going on? Indeed, He does! Does Satan know everything that is going on? Indeed, he does not!

Is there any indication regarding which side is preferable? Someone once said to me, “If you don’t know, then it’s time you found out.” Does that figure in your life? What do you know about Jesus? Have you trusted Him as your LORD and Savior? Time rushes on! One day it will be too late.

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,

Genesis 24:42-44, “So I came today to the spring, and said, ‘O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now You will make my journey on which I go successful;
43 behold, I am standing by the spring, and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw, and to whom I say, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar’;
44 and she will say to me, ‘You drink, and I will draw for your camels also’; let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master’s son.”

To be sure, it was a different day. Yet, things went so well, we should pause and ask ourselves if we ought not to handle such things as they did in Abraham’s day.

Isaac had reached the age for marriage, and his father, Abraham, was dispatching his servant to seek out a wife for Isaac.

It was a long and arduous journey, but when the servant came upon a well where servant girls were watering camels. (Now, camels have been know to drink 30 or more gallons of water at a single watering session!) Yet, when Abraham’s servant asked if he could have a drink, the girl, on her own, not only gave the servant a drink, she volunteered to water his camel, also!

Is it any wonder, therefore, that the servant believed he had found the right girl for Isaac?

The writer of this piece claims no expertise in making choices. It does seem appropriate, however, to emphasize that both Abraham and his servant were prayerful in this venture. Is it not probable, therefore, that we could rely upon prayer as we endeavor to make choices of any kind?

How sensitive are you with regard to prayer? How often do you pray? Do you truly expect to receive from the LORD those things you ask of Him? Would you consider it necessary to request His forgiveness for your sin prior to asking of Him a blessing? Oh, have you noticed that Abraham truly understood his son, Isaac? Is that a priority for us, as well? It should be!

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,

Deuteronomy 135:10-14, “When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.
11 “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;
12 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them,
13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies,
14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

Be honest with yourself. How often do you praise the LORD? I mean, in your prayers, as you arise from your bed or lie down at night, do you bless the LORD and thank Him for His protection over you throughout the day?

I’m thinking just now of how utterly close Donald Trump came being killed the other day in Pennsylvania. I’m thinking of how close I came to being killed as I broke from my mother’s grip and into the pathway of a speeding car. I was so young at the time that my memory is more of my mother’s recollection than my own. It was the Hand of the LORD alone that protected me.

Were it not for the LORD, it is highly probable that many of us would not have reached this current stage of life. We’re told to be careful, to be sensitive, to be vigilent, lest we get caught off guard and suffer some of the proclivities that lurk in the shadows of life, things that lie in wait to do us harm.

Yes, the LORD often protects us when we are unaware of danger; still, we should “always pause and look both ways before crossing the street.” In
other words, don’t be presumptuous! Christians die just as non-Christians
do. You and I are not immune from danger or from death. We don’t fear death, but we want to live life to the credit of our LORD and Savior. Yes,
thank Him; and then be careful and look both ways, as you cross the street.

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,

Luke 1:12-16, “Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.
13 But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 ‘You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.
16 “And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.”

It is the characteristic of the LORD to reveal His rules for whomever He desires. Thus, since John the Baptist, revealed here and in other passages,
Is Divinely intended to be the forerunner of the Messiah, stricter rules of life
are cited for him.

In many ways, there are stricter rules for the life and ministry of those whom He intends to lead others. First, believers are to repent of sin and then to yield themselves to Him for whatever He has in mind, or might designate at a proper time. Often, however, we make our own choices and ruin for ourselves what the LORD intended for our good.

Not everyone is called to fulltime ministry. All who are His, however, are called to do whatever He has designed for them to do. We must all simply yield to His will and control. That yieldedness makes the LORD proud of us, as we ostensibly become what He intended for us to become.

There were things forbidden to John; and there are things forbidden to all of us, as well. We must remember, however, that we are not our own! We are bought with a price – His price on the Cross of Calvary. We would not even be here, were it not for His will.

Still, He affirms that there is no life like the life lived under His love and control. It’s a safe and secure life of peace and joy. If you haven’t come under His control, you are missing what some of us know as the joy of true life in Jesus Christ. Let me commend Him to you for your own investigation.

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,

2 Corinthians 13:1-6. “This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.”

2 ‘I have previously said when present with you the second time, and though now absent, I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,

3 since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourself! Or do you not recognize this about yourself, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless you fail the test?”

6 But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.”

Some people just revel in seeking to trick the preacher! If they can get him to say or do something in which they believe they themselves have the “upper hand,” they will thrust their idea into his mind as a physical opponent

might thrust a dagger into another’s heart.

Paul had visited the Corinthian Church on two previous occasions. Yet, like

some people even today, there were those who were challenging Paul’s teachings while he was absent.

There’s just a bit of fire in Paul, as he forcefully declares that when he gets

there, he will straighten out some of those people, even to the extent of openly calling them by name!

Further, Paul challenges the Corinthian Christians to “examine” themselves

to determine if they are truly genuine believers. If they are, why are they holding to beliefs that are not Scriptural? This is a current question for people in churches today. Far too many, I fear, believe they are Christians because they regularly attend (or belong to) a church.

I have been cautious –and we all need to be—of political advocates, who want to obtain Christian votes by using religious vocabulary; yet, (perhaps)

have no deep-seated faith-commitment to our LORD Jesus Christ. Politics often has advocates that “look” Christian; but how deeply or real is their commitment?

Please pray for your church. Pray for your pastors. If you have questions about the meaning of certain Scriptures, make an appointment and earnestly place your question before them. I’m confident they will treat you with the warmest respect.

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