The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Zephaniah 1:1-6, “The word of the LORD which came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah,

2 ‘I will completely remove all things from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD.

3 ‘I will remove man and beast; I will remove the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and the ruins along with the wicked; and I will cut off man from the face of the earth,’ declares the LORD.

4 ‘So, I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the names of the idolatrous priests along with the priests.

5 ‘And those who bow down on the housetops to the host of heaven, and those who bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom,

6 And those who have turned back from following the LORD, and those who have not sought the LORD or inquired of Him.’”

Regardless of the political state of Israel, Satanic practices have always challengingly invaded the pure teachings of the LORD. Amon of Judah was the fifteenth king of Judah. He succeeded his father Manasseh and is remembered for his idolatrous practices during his short two-year reign. These evil practices, however, led to revolt and eventually to Amon’s assassination.

Ultimately, Zephaniah became a spiritual figure in those days, and the LORD used him to sound a strong warning to His people. Thus, it was Zephaniah’s voice that warned of the LORD’s intended judgment upon His people in the days of Judah.

The LORD’s wrath was as complete as it was justified. Nevertheless, His loving heart provided a reprieve when He said, “…I will leave among you a humble and lowly people and they will take refuge in the name of the LORD” (Zeph. 3:12). Like a loving parent, the LORD never delights in punishing His children, regardless of how deserving they are. We must be careful, however, not to ever presume upon His love and grace.

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,

Colossians 3:12-17, “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

What supreme encouragement to know that one has been “chosen of God”! Just think of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and a select few of the numerous saints in Scripture. Indeed, is there anything more encouraging than that?

Now, it remains only for us to demonstrate a “heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” We show compassion when we have sympathy for the sufferings of others. Kindness speaks of our “usefulness to others”; humility is a “modest view of one’s own value or importance.” Gentleness speaks of our being “mild-mannered,” and patience is the capacity to tolerate delay.

Overall, however, is our ability to demonstrate Christlikeness. Whatever the difficulties surrounding others, we are thrust into the situation to show the love and value of Christ to others. And for this, we ever and always give thanks to Almighty God!

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,

Daniel 13:15-18, “Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.

17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

18 “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Anyone who reads history knows that bravery in battle is not known to older men alone. Nor has courage existed only in recent times. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were undoubtedly in their mid-to-late teens when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that everyone fall down and worship before the image he had created. They did not challenge Nebuchadnezzar in any manner. They simply refused to worship as he had demanded.

When arrogant men in any age are challenged, they don’t take it lightly. Nebuchadnezzar was one of those men. Yet, neither his position nor his attitude dissuaded the three young Hebrews. “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…” they bravely stated. Furthermore, whatever happens, they continued, “we are not going to worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Courage comes from faith; and those young Hebrew lads were gifted with true, unadulterated faith. The LORD still honors faith like that today. What is lacking are people, young and old, who will make such a courageous stand. Determine right now to be one of the “braves!” Don’t look around at others! You may be the only one! Standing alone is one of the bravest – besides, when you stand for the LORD, you’re not alone! He’s with you!

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 118:1-9, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.

2 Oh let Israel say, ‘His lovingkindness is everlasting.’

3 Oh let the house of Aaron say, ‘His lovingkindness is everlasting.’

4 Oh let those who fear the LORD say, ‘His lovingkindness is everlasting.’

5 From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.

6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?

7 The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore, I shall look with satisfaction on those who hate me.

8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.”

For most of us, the giving of thanks is normal when we approach the table to eat. We also give thanks before bedtime and at church. Yet, the psalmist views prayer as more than a perfunctory encounter with the LORD. He observes the LORD as having everlasting lovingkindness. He reaches out to the LORD in times of fear and distress. He views the LORD as the One in whom he can find help at all times, especially in a time of trouble.

It is true that we live in times vastly different from those of the psalmist. We have ambulances, hospitals, and doctors – yet he faithfully cries, “The LORD is for me; I will not fear… It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.”

There are 34 verses in the Scriptures that say, “Trust in the LORD…” Many miracles unknown to modern science are known to our Heavenly Father. The world and all that surrounds it have come from His hand. How could we not cast all of our trust at His feet and believe in Him?

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 8:1-9, “O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth, Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!

2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast established strength, because of Thine adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?

5 Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God, and dost crown him with glory and majesty!

6 Thou dost make him to rule over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name in all the earth! “

One of the finest compliments I ever received came from one of my grammar school teachers. Kids in the early grades are always into something; and on this occasion, someone had said or done something to a fellow student, and the teachers had launched an investigation to ascertain who had said what to whom and, if necessary, how many times. Whew! But reportedly, she said, “I’ll ask Gene. He always tells the truth.” How I wish that could be said for the entirety of my life.

A similar situation is observable in this eighth Psalm. The nine verses focus praise solely upon the LORD! Whether the psalmist actually believed that the LORD physically crafted everything with His hands, as opposed to speaking them into existence, is problematic. It is, however, undeniably, the LORD’s doing. “It is marvelous in our eyes” (Psa. 118:23).

May we all remember that His hand is upon us for a purpose: namely, His glorification!

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