The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 1:13-18, “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. 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”

You have undoubtedly heard the foolish question: “Can God construct a stone that is so large that He Himself cannot move it?” We need to be extremely careful with such foolish thoughts because they can lead us into areas of thinking that question the LORD and His infinite abilities. Beware!

Still, have you ever wondered if there is anything that God cannot do? Well, the Bible says there is! The answer is in verse 13 of our text above: “God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone!” Yet, it is “through the exercise of His will” that He saves and secures us! No one is saved because he deserves it; he is saved when he realizes he does not deserve it and turns in trust to the LORD to deliver him. Nor is anyone secured through his own human effort.

All good things come from God. What’s more, they come to us completely by His grace! Yet, He requires that we surrender our grip on sin and fully trust in His will and thorough capability to save. Trust ever and only in the LORD!

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

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