The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:1-7, “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Many are the mysteries surrounding the birth of our LORD Jesus Christ. Yet, the Scriptures reveal them to those who are His and to those who earnestly seek them.

Swaddling clothes were simply strips of cloth that served as physical protection for the Child from insects like flies, gnats, and all sorts of pestilent diseases that could have impaired the Child’s necessary sleep. Whether either of His human parents gave thought to the cloth’s cleanliness, we are not told.

“The oriental swaddling clothes consisted of a square of cloth and two or more bandages. The Child was laid on the cloth diagonally, and the corners were folded over the feet and body and under the head. The bandages were then tied, so as to hold the cloth in position. This served as the clothing of the Child until He was about a year old. Any omission would then signal that the child had been abandoned.”

The projection of the cords that bound Him as a child was a sign of those cords that would ultimately bind Him to the cross!

What an exciting picture this depicts of our LORD Jesus Christ!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Psalm 98:1-9, “O sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonderful things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.

2 The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.

5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.

6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the LORD.

7 Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy.

9 Before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.”

While the dominance of the 98th Psalm is understandably concerned with sounds of the Christmas season, we joyously clap our hands upon hearing the mountains sing gloriously together!

It is indeed a time of supreme rejoicing, for the LORD is making known His victory! He is revealing His righteousness to all people, especially to those known to be of Jewish heritage.

Throughout the years of this annual celebration, we have focused on the Christ Child, for it is He who, through His Cross and Resurrection, offers all mankind His forgiveness of their sin and life with a fresh, new beginning. Have you been born again? Have you confessed your sin to Him and asked for His forgiveness?

Opportunity abounds! You can be forgiven and start life anew! What could be more exciting than to commence a New Year knowing that you have been cleansed from sin?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Romans 15:13-19, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.

15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,

16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.

18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,

19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone spoke only of the things pertaining to God? Such would be true if we were always living under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit! Our human nature too often lacks that control, permitting us to express concepts and emotions that do not originate with Him. Such things often offend others, leading them into further doubt regarding His ability to control anything.

How are we then to be representatives of His love and grace? Why should others not doubt His value for themselves when they fail to observe His love and grace in us? The apostle Paul embraced the right concept when he determined to speak of nothing except what the LORD had accomplished within him. Unbelievers can be excused for doubting what they do not see in us; yet, that doubt will work against all that the LORD desires for them.

Our lives should then always point others to Him! This is our greatest challenge!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Kings 10:18-21, “Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, ‘Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.’

19 “’Now, summon all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests; let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in cunning, so that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal.

20 And Jehu said, ‘Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.’ And they proclaimed it.

21 Then Jehu sent throughout Israel and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And when they went into the house of Baal, the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other.”

Here’s an age-old question: “Is it ever right to do wrong to do right?”

It seems an easy answer when we discover we’ve been “snookered.” I have to confess that when I first read verses 18-19a, I was furious at Jehu! I had read the passage before, but had forgotten the part that said “But Jehu did it in cunning…”

Although the Scripture gives Jehu a pass (due to his good intention), it is not an “all-time ‘okay’” that we can squeeze in wherever we find it helpful for whatever we want.

Following the end of the Second World War, men who were Nazis sought to exclude their heinous acts under the banner of “…that was war; we were under the authority of our commanders. We had to do it!”

No, this age-old question brings up an age-old truth: “It is never right to do wrong to do right.”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Numbers 32:16-23, “Then they came near to (Moses) and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;

17 but we ourselves will be armed and ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.

19 “For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east.”

20 So Moses said to them, “If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.

23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Working together was not always easy for the Israelites. It is true that the tribes often had mutual enemies outside their own nation; however, they were not always in agreement as to how to deal with them. Notice the “we will” in verses 16 and 17, in contrast to the “we will not” in verses 18 and 19. It is noteworthy that Moses ignored their negatives and transcended to the positive, avoiding a needless confrontation. After all, Moses knew the LORD’s directive, and he was determined to enact it. Still, churches are often like that. They have a common goal but cannot come together on how to achieve the objective. Many times it’s due to poor leadership. More often, however, it is due to members who refuse to yield to the leadership the LORD has put in control. Assuming “wrongs” to be true of both camps, prayer becomes all the more vital. Otherwise, “be sure your sin will find you out.”

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America