The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:25-32, “The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes…”

My day usually commences with breakfast, an hour “trip” in the Kehuna Chair, a cup of strong coffee, listening to Christian music on BBN Radio, and watching the television news concerning Israel.

Today was much like any other day, except that the Israeli news carried a “live” raid (i.e. live, as I viewed it) of Israeli air forces hammering Lebanon. Viewed from the cockpit, I have never before viewed a bombing raid that didn’t give the opportunity of a quick breath!

No Scripture passage could be more adept to what spiritual believers encounter than this one above, scripted by King Solomon for those who confront the enemy in battle.

Solomon warns Israel not to be afraid. Fear is the foremost enemy in any battle. Yet, for the believer, the LORD is his foremost shield. The earth and the heavens are the work of the LORD! And those who inhabit the earth are His people.

The seven verses noted above say “Do not” seven times. Israel often failed to heed the LORD’s warnings! If we are wise, we will elect to follow all that He says.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
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,

Proverbs 3:11-18, “For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.

My memory at my current age is hardly what it was when I was a child. At any rate, I can well remember hearing these non-comforting words when I was “under the rod.”

“I’m doing this,” my loving parents said, “for your own good. We want you to grow up to be a good boy.” There were additional words that accompanied the unpleasantness they handed out on this poor soul. I think I knew it then. It was for my own good that I was suffering. There were some cute little ditties my mother uttered while I was under the rod. They seemed not-to-cute at the time, yet I ultimately came to understand their value.

The “profit” that is cited in verse 14 above was, as it turned out, of much greater value than I would have believed at that time. My earthly father was a quiet man; my mother was the chief executioner. They worked well together, and I still love them both for what they were and for what they gave my sister and me. I never received punishment that I did not deserve.

The wish of verse 13 ought to be the desire of every man and boy! Failure in verse 13 demonstrates its results in verse 14. And the full results come to us in verses 15-17. Thus, the full depth of meaning lies well beyond our childish years. It reaches into adulthood and is ultimately shared as needed with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

The expression of Divine and parental love are together the tree of life; and “happy are all who hold her fast.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
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,

Prov. 3:5-13, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.”

Notice that the writer commences with an admonition: “Trust in the LORD…” Have you ever had a medical doctor perform a procedure on you when you were not familiar with the procedure? Why did you allow it? You allowed it because he said, “This is what needs to be done. It may not be pleasant, but you will have serious complications if you don’t allow it.”

King Solomon, the wisest man in his day. He wrote the Proverbs above that says, “Trust in the LORD…” Believe what he says, don’t trust what you think. Solomon was reputedly the wisest of men. It might do us all well, were you and I to read the above passage again.

Solomon admonishes us to honor the LORD, share our wealth with Him, and live within His jurisdiction. Why? because He loves us and disciplines us and longs for us to trust Him completely.

“But, how do we know what He wants of us,” you ask. He tells us what He wants in His Holy Word, the Scriptures…the Bible. If you have never followed the LORD, you’re in for a huge and pleasant surprise! He will be with you in all of your life and gives direction as to how you and I are to live. You’ll be glad you followed Him, I can assure you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
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,

Prov. 23:22-28, “Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother
when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who sires a wise son will be
glad in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26 Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 For a harlot is a deep pit and an adulterous woman is a narrow well.
28 Surely she lurks as a robber, and increases the faithless among men.”

To some of you this will sound strange; but the older I become (your guess!), the greater
is my understanding of the wisdom in their instruction when I was young. There were
things I was instructed not to do, but without the rationale behind the instruction. As I
grew older, I suddenly understood the rationale.

There were, of course, multiple things left to my own discretion. I now believe that what items were omitted from my parents’ instruction, were purposely omitted that I might learn them on my own. Instructions are somewhat like stair steps. When we successfully learn to lift our feet up one step, it encourages us to lift them up to the second step. It’s a simple matter of growth.

In much the same way, the LORD instructs us en route to spiritual and physical maturity. On the physical level, we are to make our parents and others glad. On the spiritual level, we are to literally “live” in the Word of God and allow His Holy Spirit to enable us to grow spiritually. This is to the delight of our LORD Jesus Christ.

When we were children, we wanted to “grow up” physically. At least, that’s how I felt. Why then, should anyone wonder why we want to grow up spiritually? By the way, where are you on the spiritual growth scale? Are you reading the Bible daily? Are you praying about becoming more like the LORD Jesus Christ? Are your habits pleasing to the LORD?

We would all do well to remember the words of B. B. McKinney’s hymn:

“While passing through this world of sin,
And others your life shall view,
Be clean and pure without, within;
Let others see Jesus in you.”

Practice living this way this week. You might be surprised what other will say when they see more of Jesus in you!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
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,

Prov. 22:21-27, “To make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer him who sent you.
22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate;
23 For the LORD will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them.
24 Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man,
25 Or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.
26 Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become guarantors for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?
28 Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.”

If you’ve ever encountered someone who believed (or said he believed) that the Holy Bible was just an impracticable old book, you need to read him the few verses above.

Quite honestly, it seems close to ridiculous that anyone would “rob the poor when he is poor.” But, there are some truly ridiculous people in our world today. We have to be spiritually and practically ready before we encounter them.

Be careful, too, about associating with those who are “hot-tempered” and “given to anger.” It’s easier than you think to become like them! Moreover, you will not be long in learning that you yourself have been “trapped” into becoming like them. It’s not easy to escape the net.

Yes, there are those who give pledges for the help they receive. At the time, they appear competent and honest to meet their monetary responsibility. Yet, time will reveal that the “promise” was weak, and you may have lost it all.

The Bible is quite practical in its exposures!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom