The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 14:1-7, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

4 “And you know the way where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

While troubles abound throughout the world, peace is available to reign in our hearts. Many have been rescued from impending disasters through the sheer will that would not surrender to defeat.

Here the apostle John advocates the one aspect that will deliver us from fear: don’t give in to trouble! Trouble will reign in our hearts and minds only if we permit it. Solomon admonished us correctly when he said,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He

will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the

LORD and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your body And refreshment

to your bones” (Prov. 3:5-8).

Isaiah encourages us when he says,

“Trust in the LORD forever,

For in GOD the LORD, we have

an everlasting Rock” (Isa. 26:4).

What more do we need than He has already promised?

Heartily in Christ,

(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,

James 1:13-17, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

“Temptation” is the encouragement to do what is wrong, and we engage in it long before we know the definition of the word. When we’re old enough to know it is wrong, we find the “escape” in blaming someone else for what we do. Such a transfer of blame comes immediately on the heels of the action. Sometimes, we even seek to transfer the blame to God by saying, “I am being tempted by God.”

James is clear, however, saying, “God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” Rather, it is the enticement to do wrong that is evil, and God has no connection with that. Some years ago, it became popular to jest about wrongdoing by saying, “The devil made me do it.” Interestingly enough, however, James puts the blame on “lust”; and lust is blamed on mankind.

Shifting from evil to good, James informs us that every good and perfect thing is “from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” James will not permit us to place the blame for sin anywhere but upon ourselves; nor will he permit us to take credit for any good that occurs. Good is ever and always from the LORD.

We must give close attention to all that occurs; and our concentration on God will endeavor us to be more and more like Him.

Heartily in Christ,

(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