The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Nehemiah 10:28-33, “Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding,

29 are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law, which was given through Moses, God’s servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of our Lord God, and His ordinances and His statutes;

30 and that we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.

31 As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day; and we will forego the crops the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.

32 We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:

33 for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.”

One thing that could be said of the Prophet Nehemiah is that he was not sinless. That’s a factor common to all of us! Nevertheless, Nehemiah was a true and tested leader. The people, regardless of their positions, had “separated themselves from the peoples of the land” where they were living. We would do well to do the same.

Appointed by the LORD to lead the people, Nehemiah declared, “We will not buy from them on the Sabbath or a holy day.” I can remember when we refused to buy or sell on Sunday because it was the LORD’s Day! Some shops closed on Sundays out of respect for religious tradition. So much for negatives! Nehemiah “placed (the people) under obligation” to support the House and service of the LORD by the annual contribution of a shekel “for the sin offerings…and all the work of the house of our 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,

Revelation 21:1-5, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

Virtually all of us have somewhere attended a wedding. Some of us have attended many. It’s contestable, but there are not many events that are more elaborately beautiful than a wedding. The bride and the groom and all of the attendants are dressed in their finest. Yes, nervousness is often obvious, but nothing that would discourage participation in the ceremony.

Undoubtedly, that is why the Holy Spirit prompted the Apostle John to frame in such elaborate and colorful splendor the body of believers in a picture of the Marriage of the LORD to His Bride, the Church. We must be careful, therefore, to note that “the Church” referenced here does not refer to any human organization, such as Baptist or Methodist, etc. His Church identifies only born-again believers in Christ Jesus, irrespective of all human religious organizations, despite what they might be named for the purpose of identification.

It was Jesus Himself who said, “You must be born again” (Jn 3:7). If you’re not sure of your salvation, let me know. I’ll do my best to help you. If you have friends who are not born again, by all means share the Gospel with them! Use my tract, if you like. Time is short. Christ could come before–

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 Timothy 3:1-11, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.”
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!”

I am certain you have noticed the compatibility of this letter with that noted in the previous email delivered to the Galatians. That seems to say that no matter who you are or where you are living, the adversary is knocking continually at your door and with virtually the same message. “Difficult times” are coming! In fact, they are already here! Yet, there is a way out –an exit strategy! It commenced with Paul’s teachings.

Now notice his exit strategy in verses 10-11 above: follow his teaching, his conduct, his purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and, above all, his sufferings, such as happened “at Antioch at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!” The delivery is ours, if we follow his instructions!

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,

Galatians 5:19-26, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

It means everything is to start off correctly in a New Year! Admittedly, this presents a formidable challenge. The year is new, but you and I are not! Some (if not all) of the challenges we encountered in past years are again ready to challenge us in A.D. 2026.

If past years are anything to be considered (and they are!), we must either engage new or find better means of combating the enemy of the past. It is foolhardy to think we can overcome new obstacles unless we have previously experienced some victories over them.

Please know that it is not the intention of this writer to imply that the 15 or more negatives noted in the verses above are currently present and knocking on the virtual door of those who are receiving this letter. Nor does this writer possess any knowledge of the attempts, present or future, that will consistently pound on the door of your heart at any given time. All he knows is what he himself experiences and that the LORD is herewith warning every reader that such invasions will attack, and often with a vengeance!

Our only protection comes from the LORD through His Holy Word and from our consistent faithfulness each day with Him in prayer. Let us start 2026 with faithful dedication and living in the Spirit. God bless you abundantly as we commence this New Year!

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, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 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 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

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

Have you ever faced a difficulty with which you didn’t know how to deal? What did you do? To some degree, how we handle any situation depends largely upon its proximity to us and whether we’ve previously faced a closely related situation. Despite not having experienced everything that could easily be included in any situation, let everything be subject to love and devotion to our LORD Jesus Christ.

If Christ truly dwells within us, peace and thanksgiving will be the primary reasons for our attitude of love and devotion. After all, God is love (Cf. 1 John 4:7-20). Further, we know that He “has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true…” (1 John 5:20).

Let’s make 2026, and all years thereafter, years of love and understanding. Who knows, but that 2026 might easily be the year of His long-awaited coming? Be spiritually prepared!

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