The Grands Letter (Rom/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on December 23, 2025 5:22 am (CST)
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
