The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.'”

2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,

3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;

4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD– an ordinance for Israel– to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5 For there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.”

7 “May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.”

8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, ‘May peace be within you.’

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.”

The word “glad” is mentioned in Scripture 146 times, 25 of which are in the New Testament. It’s the Hebrew word samach, which means “rejoice!” It’s a word that appears numerous times in the Scriptures! It’s interesting, too, that the word also means “fruitful.” It is an expression that often links the Jews and Gentiles in a religious bond.

Physically going to church originated with the Jewish people. David was always glad when it was time to worship the LORD. I wish we could say the same for Jews and “Christians” today. Oh, there are quite a number who attend worship on the LORD’s Day. But I often wonder whether people are there to truly worship the LORD—or just attend?

There will come a day when Jesus will return. Were He to return this LORD’s Day, would He find us truly “worshipping Him?” Or would He only find us physically in a building that was ostensibly constructed for worship?

Pray earnestly for your pastor. Pray for all pastors, who hold to the truths of Scripture. One day the LORD Jesus will return! Not every believer will be able to be physically “in church” at that particular time. But, when our hearts are tuned to Him, His Church (all true believers) will be ready to answer His call.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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 Chronicles 18:1-9, “Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

2 And some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.

3 And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

4 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

5 Then the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?”

7 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”

8 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla’s son.”

There is no question but that Ahab and Jehoshaphat were friends. And it was largely that friendship that induced them to go to battle against Ramoth-gilead. Their feasting and collaboration drew them more closely together, and Jehoshaphat soon discovered that Ahab was planning a war.

Jehoshaphat, however, insisted on consulting the LORD prior to any activities of a warlike nature. Ahab, it seemed, would have gone to war without consulting anyone; nevertheless, to keep Jehoshaphat onside, he assembled 450 prophets and inquired of them what should be done. To a man, the 450 prophets said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.”

Jehoshaphat was still unsure, so Ahab reluctantly consulted Micaiah, a prophet who never prophesied in favor of Ahab. That tendency is often ours. We ask only those whom we are certain will respond to us in a favorable manner. In effect, those prophets said to the prophet Micaiah, “Please let your word be like one of the 450 favorable for war.”

So, when Micaiah was asked to speak, he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep which have no shepherd; and the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.'” Thus, the thought of war was terminated, and doubtless many lives were spared.

May we always prayerfully consult the LORD regarding what we are to do; and may we follow His leading, knowing that He knows what is best.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

John 1:1-12, “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 by 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 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.

9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, that all might believe through him.

When I am telling of an event that occurred in my life, I often disrupt my account by inserting things that are relative, but not substantive, to the entire discussion. (I’m certain that every reader of this Letter has done the same.)

The disciple John is the author of the above passage; yet the John of whom he speaks is another; namely, John the Baptist. And the Baptist speaks of the LORD Jesus when he says in verse 10 that He was the True Light that enlightens every man.

That clearly means that we all need Jesus as our LORD and Savior, and the possibility of receiving Him as such is within our grasp. He came to receive us, not to reject us. Rejection comes from us. We need to reject ourselves and all of those things that are clearly not of Him.

If you have not received Him as your LORD and Savior, do it today! If you have already received Him, you have the responsibility to share Him with those who are still lost. That opportunity of sharing is in itself a blessing from Almighty God. It’s a joy unlike any other except that of yielding yourself to Him. It’s a blessing that He freely extends to you.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

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,

Matthew 5:33-45, “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’

34 “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36 “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37 “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; and anything beyond these is of evil.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 “But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40 “And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

41 “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’

44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

If anyone ever wants to know whether Christianity is hard and “tough as a rock” or as “easy as gooseberry pie,” this is the passage to explain it. The passage says, “This is what the ancient fathers have told us.” (v. 33). It is not as easy as it seems.

Don’t promise what you will do, Jesus said, “Just do it!” Don’t rest your statement on some ancient saying; rest it on Jesus and what He has said. Let His Word stand for Itself! Resist the temptation to slip your own thinking into His Word!

Behaving like He wishes us to behave is not easy – at least, at first, it’s not. Yet, as time moves on, stick to what He has said. Let nothing divert you from His Truth. It’s His Truth that sets us free!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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

Psalm 122:1-9, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD.’

2 Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem,

3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;

4 To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD—an ordinance for Israel—to give thanks to the name of the LORD.

5 For there thrones were set for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.

7 “May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.”

8 For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.”

9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”

If you have been following the situation in Israel, you are aware of the tragic conflicts that exist between Israel and some of the nations that border her. I witnessed, via television, two young Israeli women who had been held captive by Israel’s adversaries. How those girls handled captivity was nothing short of miraculous!

The protection the girls received was clearly from the LORD! The Jews, we must not forget, are God’s people! Historically, when Israel strayed from God, they always encountered trouble from their enemies. That is still the situation today.

All politics aside, if you were being held captive, which side would you prefer to be your captor? In the passage above, the Israelites are encouraged to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Prayer is always toward the LORD, for He alone is able to bring about peace wherever its absence cries out for the need.

The primary need for peace is always within the heart. If you have never trusted Jesus as LORD and Savior, your greatest need is for Him to reside in your heart and guide your life.

Trust me—just a little; confess your sins, and appeal to the LORD for forgiveness. Only then will you know the peace that only the LORD Jesus can give. I am praying for you. Please offer a prayer for me.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

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